Lights for disability hires

Penticton businesses and individuals are welcome to join in with the annual “Light it Up for NDEAM" event tonight, Oct. 17.

NDEAM stands for National Disability Employment Awareness Month. For one night, businesses and landmarks across Canada will be lighting up their locations in purple and blue, in the hope of igniting conversation about disability-inclusive hiring.

"One of our goals is to reach the smaller businesses in our community which may not be aware of the benefits of hiring people with disabilities. Recent studies indicate that diverse and inclusive workplaces have better business outcomes and are two times more likely to meet or exceed financial targets," reads a press release from the Penticton branch of the movement.

"Diverse workplaces have a seventy two percent higher staff retention rate and eighty six percent had equivalent or better attendance than their peers. Ninety percent performed equal or better than their coworkers without disabilities. Most do not require accommodations and for those that do, the cost is often minimal."

Penticton participants include The Penticton Lakeside Resort, the South Okanagan Events Centre, Boston Pizza, Hotel Penticton, Penticton and District Society for Community Living and more.

Nationwide, there will be major landmarks in cities lit up in the colours to show support.

"Don’t forget to wear purple and blue on this one night, nationally coordinated lighting event shining light on the many ways people with disabilities contribute to our workforce and to our communities," the press release reads.

For more information about accessible employers in Canada, click here.