The 2012 theme for the just-ended National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) in the U.S. asked “What Can YOU Do?,” in part to encourage companies to focus on the skills and talents of a prospective employee rather than how a disability might need to be accommodated. But in the thriving city of Mumbai, India, many businesses already recognize the value individuals with disabilities bring to their operation and are seizing on the opportunity.
Priyanka Pani recapped several examples in the Hindu Business Line article, “Retail outlets hiring differently-abled,” starting with Hair Yoga, a new hair and head massage salon that will be operated exclusively by people with disabilities. Hair Yoga is the latest salon concept from Jawed Habib, who is a celebrity in his native country by virtue of owning some 225 salons across 62 cities, all bearing his name on their storefront marquees.
Habib already has people with disabilities working in his signature salons, so for him it’s simply a matter of recruiting enough staff to run the store. For this, he is working with the non-governmental organization, Sarthak Education Trust. “We need to identify their talent and train them accordingly” Habib tells Pani.
India’s retail industry employs 33 million people, says Pani, and some experts anticipate that number doubling over the next 10 years. Even in a country as populous as India that is a huge number of people to integrate into the workforce. Many business owners have become concerned that they won’t be able to find enough skilled workers. But thanks to organizations that provide career training to people with disabilities, these employers can tap a ready-to-go talent pool. Vijay Kar, a senior manager for Cafe Coffee Day, tells Pani that once the proper training is in place, the innate talents of these individuals shine through:
Hearing and speech impaired people have strong olfactory (smell) sense and make good brew masters and coffee makers. We just need to put the right effort and time to train them as to how to face customers. We also sensitise other employees to be more responsive towards them.
Retail isn’t the only business sector in India recognizing the potential of people with disabilities. As we’ve noted previously, Microsoft India has made significant investments in accessibility technology that enables these individuals to attain certification as Microsoft Office Specialists. With 600 cyber-learning centers equipped to administer the exam, more people with disabilities are expected to integrate into office environments or telecommute.
In the manufacturing industry, Gitanjali Gems recognized the knack that people with disabilities have for performing the meticulous manual labor tasks involved with diamond-cutting, polishing and jewelry-making, and now are recruiting these individuals aggressively for several positions.
NDEAM may have ended. But these examples should serve a model for U.S. businesses looking to expand their applicant pool that people with disabilities are ready, willing, and able to be considered for almost any kind of job available.
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Image by Sadasiv Swain.
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