Cold Call
Can a Coffee Shop in Utah Help Solve Underemployment for People with Disabilities?
Oct 29, 2024
Rick Ruback, a Harvard Business School professor specializing in corporate finance, and Joe Higgins, an executive fellow and former president of Visual Comfort & Company, explore the powerful impact of Lucky Ones Coffee in Park City, Utah. They discuss how this coffee shop uniquely employs individuals with disabilities, emphasizing the for-profit model's effectiveness in addressing unemployment. The duo highlights the community's role in supporting inclusivity, innovative hiring strategies, and the transformative benefits of meaningful employment on both employees and workplace culture.
27:40
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Quick takeaways
- Lucky Ones Coffee in Utah highlights the profound impact of inclusive employment by providing meaningful job opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
- The establishment of supportive work environments not only benefits employees with disabilities but also enhances overall job satisfaction and reduces turnover for businesses.
Deep dives
Closure of Willowbrook and Its Impact
The closure of the Willowbrook State School in 1987 marked a significant turning point for the rights of people with disabilities in the United States. Once the largest institution of its kind, Willowbrook was known for its horrific overcrowding and substandard living conditions. Its closure not only highlighted the abuses faced by residents but also paved the way for landmark legislation, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. The ADA has since ensured greater access to education, employment, and human services for individuals with disabilities while prohibiting discrimination and promoting reasonable workplace accommodations.
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