An open letter to the President of the United States

Dear Mr. President:

I write to you today regarding your comments on the Jay Leno Show aired on March 19th, 2008. In particular, I reference the comparison of your less-than-quality bowling game to that of a Special Olympian. I am not writing to point out your error – you no doubt understand that – rather, I am writing you to ensure that you understand the broader implications of your words and the opportunity in front of you.

What is done is done, and what matters is what gets done in the future. You have the opportunity to use your misstep to shed light on the billions of people tied to disability around the world with a fire in their belly to work, pay taxes and bring their brand of innovation to society.

A private phone call to Tim Shriver and hiring an intern who happens to be a ‘Special Olympian’ - while a good start - is not enough. This reaches far beyond the Special Olympics, as your words hit home for hundreds of millions of people who do not identify with Special Olympics, and who in fact spend their lives combating the stereotype. I suggest three specific remedies:

1. Make an equally public apology to the Leno media reach;

2. Develop a demonstrated understanding of the issues surrounding people with disabilities, paying particular attention to economic empowerment; and

3. As CEO of the United States Government, drive a benchmarked mandate to hire qualified people with disabilities (double the current number, by 2012). Hold accountable those cabinet members who fail to attain benchmarks. Follow this up with a public challenge to CEOs of the world’s largest corporations to do the same.

The new frontier of disability is in the workplace and consumerism. Over the next five to ten years, people with disabilities will enter the workforce and become a powerful influence in the marketplace. The landscape of products and service offerings will change to include the 1.2 billion people globally who have a disability, and the 2.0 billion people globally who are friends and family of people with disabilities. Corporations and governments, whether they realize it or not, will need to adapt to these market forces; as these two groups combined represent 53% of the population.

As a successful business owner with an Ivy League education who happens to have a disability, I can’t tell you how frustrating it is to have to prove my intellect every day of my life because my speech is slurred. There are hundreds of millions of people around the world with disabilities just like me who battle perception to stand on their talents. The perception we fight is the same one perpetuated by a joke that you told to a national audience this week. As an African American who has dealt with stereotypes, I am certain you understand this frustration.

The biggest barrier to the goal of inclusion in the workforce is getting leaders and managers to take these efforts seriously. Historically, disability has been the realm of the ‘do-gooder’, without much heed to results. When a manager considers hiring a person with a disability, thought goes to a perceived burden rather than actual benefit. This is due to the fact that there is a perception that people with disabilities cannot deliver quality. Needless to say, your comments do not help.

If you, or your staff, need help to do this, please give me a call. I would be happy to lend a hand.

Mr. President, people with disabilities are well acquainted with turning perceived adversity into quality results. I urge you to do the same.

Sincerely,

Rich Donovan
Managing Partner, IPS

Dustin Longstreth
Managing Partner, IPS

Duncan Wyeth
Trustee-United Cerebral Palsy