Supported Employment is Good Business: Honoring NDEAM with Purpose
Posted on October 7, 2025
Every October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) invites us to reflect on what inclusion really means in the workplace. It’s a time to celebrate progress, but also to challenge ourselves as leaders and community members to build work cultures that truly reflect the diversity of our world.
At its core, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) isn’t just about representation—it’s about unlocking the full potential of every person. When individuals with disabilities have equitable access to employment opportunities, we don’t just change individual lives of the people we serve; we enrich entire organizations and communities!
Representation Matters: A Human and Organizational Prerogative
Representation is not only symbolic, but is transformative. Employees with disabilities bring lived experience, resilience, and perspective that strengthen workplace culture. When they see themselves represented at every level in an organization, it signals to others—employees, customers, and community partners—that inclusion is not just a statement but a practice and a tool that builds a more resilient workforce.
For supported employees, meaningful work offers more than a paycheck. It provides:
- Social connection with colleagues
- A sense of purpose to contributing skills and talents
- Confidence and independence that ripple outward into family and community life
These outcomes are not simply “soft skill” benefits; they are the building blocks of thriving, resilient people and workplaces. The goal is to rethink how business is conducted so that inclusion becomes a part of the DNA of the workplace.
Supported Employment: Good for People, Great for Business
The message of NDEAM is clear: inclusion is not charity—it’s smart business. Supportive employment programs, where employers partner with agencies to match, coach, and retain employees with disabilities, yield measurable results:
- Retention & Loyalty: Supported employees often demonstrate stronger loyalty and longer tenure, reducing costly turnover.
- Economic Value: Investing in supportive employment can increase revenue, while building a stable, reliable workforce.
- Culture & Morale: Teams that embrace inclusion often report higher morale and engagement. Inclusion fosters belonging, and belonging fuels performance.
Research and real-world outcomes align: when businesses prioritize inclusive hiring, they gain not only a skilled employee but also a cultural advantage that attracts customers, strengthens brand reputation, and inspires existing staff.
How can you take part?
As we recognize National Disability Employment Awareness Month, let’s move beyond awareness to commitment. Employers can:
- Partner with local supportive employment providers, like Dutton Farm, to create an impact
- Improve hiring practices for accessibility and equity
- Invest in training, collaboration and mentorship opportunities
- Celebrate success stories of supported employees openly and proudly- take advantage of our social media pages and share to pass knowledge to others!
DEI and Supported Employment are not side projects—they are strategies for sustainable success. They build workplaces where everyone can contribute, thrive, and stay.
This October, let’s remember: supported employment is not only the right thing to do—it’s the smart thing to do. Good for people. Good for business. Good for all of us.
