Community Business believes that much needs to be done to overcome the social exclusion of the most disadvantaged in our society and that companies have a key role to play. People with disabilities are a key target group in this respect - often disabled not so much by the impairments themselves but by society’s reaction and treatment of them.
Based on our experience of working with companies in the Asia region, we know that many companies, whilst interested, are hesitant about how to approach the subject of disability in their organisations. Much of the hesitancy about employing disabled people stems from a fear of the unknown and unfounded myths and stereotypes about the capability of disabled people in the workplace.
By focusing our efforts on highlighting the business imperative, changing mindsets and helping companies build their capability to employ and do business with disabled people, we are working with companies in the Asia region to build ‘disability confidence’ – a term borrowed from the Employers’ Forum on Disability in the UK – now known as the Business Disability Forum.
In 2018, this campaign will build on many of the initiatives we have been running since 2008 as well as focus on the sharing of personal stories as a way to showcase the capability of disabled talent.
