How Orange Grove Center Puts People First
By Abby Callahan
October is known as National Disability Employment Month – an annual recognition of the positive impact of people with disabilities (PWD) within the American workforce – but employers don’t often consider PWD to fill their open positions.
Across the U.S, people with disabilities experience unemployment at nearly twice the rate of people without disabilities. However, PWD offer many of the experiences and perspectives that corporations covet in an employee – including problem-solving, adaptability, loyalty, and resilience. With more than 61 million adults with disabilities in the U.S., they are a large talent pool that is often overlooked.
In fact, companies who hire PWD experience 25% more productivity, 1.6 times more revenue, 2 times more economic profit, and 2.6 times more net income than less inclusive companies. Inclusive companies are also reporting higher employee retention, stronger employee morale, improved team collaboration, and enhanced brand reputation.
More than being the right thing to do, the data proves that hiring people with disabilities is a good business strategy.
Employer Resources – Federal, State, Local
For small businesses looking to create a more inclusive workspace, the U.S. government offers tax incentives that make implementation easier. The Disabled Access Credit offers a non-refundable credit of up to $5,000 for eligible accessibility expenses to businesses with $1 million or less in annual revenue or fewer than 30 full-time employees. Employers may also qualify for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit when hiring people from certain target groups.
At the state level, Tennessee’s “Employment First & Community Inclusion” initiative within the Department of Disabilities and Aging emphasizes programs that connect people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to real jobs and their community through the use of innovation and enabling technology.
In Chattanooga, Orange Grove Center helps turn those broader opportunities into meaningful employment for people with IDD. Since 1953, the private 501(c)(3) nonprofit has served children and adults with IDD throughout Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia, crafting programs and services that maximize opportunities for people with disabilities, as well as recognize, support, and celebrate the qualities of each individual they serve.
“All people, including people with IDD, need to work,” says Darcy Owens, Orange Grove Center’s director of employment. “We all benefit from being productive, keeping our minds engaged, and using the skills we have to contribute to a larger project.”
A Match for Success
Nationally accredited by The Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL) for their person-centered excellence, Orange Grove’s employment services focus on the needs of both the future employee and the employer, helping to identify and eliminate possible barriers for employment. This includes everything from attending job fairs with the individual seeking a job and accessing resources available in the community to educating local employers that are looking to hire a diverse workforce.
“Our team works hard to find the right match between job and employee, considering the job requirements and the likes, dislikes, and skills of the would-be employee,” Owens explains. “We’re also excellent at helping employers tweak their operations if necessary, to make employing the people we support a reality rather than just an idea.”
With the help of the center, employees with IDD can work independently or under the center’s supervision. For individuals who work more independently, a job coach can provide follow-along support by checking in with them and their employer regularly. For those who work best in small-group settings, the center provides opportunities for two to three individuals to work onsite with staff support while completing projects from local business partners.
“Our goal is success all around,” explains Christina Moore, Orange Grove Center’s chief program officer. “We want an employer happy with the work delivered, as well as dependable workers; we also want an employee happy with the job and to feel like a valued team member.”
Additional Services
Orange Grove’s services truly embody their mission: to be a movement, not a place; a community, not a setting; a practice, not a promise. Additional resources and support provided by the center include:
- Job Skill Acquisition/Coaching Services
- The Orange Grove School
- Clinical Services
- Intensive Outpatient Program
- Residential Services
- Community Support
Better Together
Chattanooga is home to individuals with a wide range of talents, abilities, and experiences, and – with the help of Orange Grove Center – employers and employees alike can contribute to a more inclusive workforce while building meaningful connections.
“This is an exciting time for Chattanooga with the emphasis on job-ready high school graduates and workforce development,” Moore concludes. “It’s the perfect time for employers to consider whether they have some need that the center and those we support can help to fill.”
For individuals and employers looking to learn more about Orange Grove Center, visit their website at orangegrovecenter.org or call their office at 423-493-2953.
