Transforming Workplaces Through Disability Inclusion
Discover the competitive advantage of disability inclusion with Northwest Center, which is funded, in part, by your donations of household goods and clothes to Big Blue Truck. Embracing an inclusive workforce goes beyond corporate responsibility — it can lead to increased productivity, better quality, and higher revenue.
Engaging Your Organization Through Disability Inclusion
At Northwest Center, we not only employ our own inclusive workforce, we also place employees with disabilities at some of the largest and most successful companies in the U.S. We also run businesses that fund disability inclusion programs. The results of inclusion can include better customer satisfaction, greater employee retention, and higher financial returns.
Beyond Corporate Responsibility to the Bottom Line
Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) produces results, with employees with disabilities enhancing not just our workforce but also workforces at some of the largest and most successful companies in the U.S., including Walgreens and Amazon.
120% Higher Productivity
A Walgreens distribution center where more than 50 percent of the staff were people with disabilities had a 120 percent increase in productivity.
37% Better Quality
Employees that Northwest Center placed at Amazon achieved work quality 37 percent higher than the general population, a perfect safety record, and better attendance.
28% More Revenue
Leading companies that actively seek to hire people with disabilities report 28 percent higher revenue, higher net income, and higher shareholder returns.
Disability Is Essential to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
More companies than ever see the value of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). But disability is too often forgotten when workplaces launch DEI initiatives — fewer than 30 percent of U.S. companies actively strive to include people with disabilities, according to Kessler Foundation research. Northwest Center recognizes that disability intersects oppressed identities, such as Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and Transgender. When disability is not part of DEI efforts, it only increases the already high unemployment rates that people with disabilities face.
Our founding mission of disability inclusion in education and employment has evolved to include expanding DEI efforts across our divisions and services. As an organization that has lived inclusion since 1965, we integrate inclusion into everything we do: staffing, training, providing services for people with disabilities, and running our commercial operations. By beginning with an inclusive framework where all identities and abilities are valued and able to contribute, we see every day how inclusion benefits everyone.
Turning Donations into Action – The Impact of Big Blue Truck
Join us in our mission for disability inclusion. Your donations to Big Blue Truck not only help the environment, they also contribute to critical initiatives. For more information, contact us at 800-992-2060 or explore our Careers and Auto Donations sections.
About Big Blue Truck
Big Blue Truck is a force in recycling and reuse that has supported Northwest Center's education and employment programs for more than 50 years. We accept clothing, shoes, textiles, and small household goods, making giving back easy. Partnering with Value Village thrift stores, we transform your donations into support for people with disabilities, promoting inclusion and sustainable living.
Our impact extends beyond individual donations. We offer opportunities for organizations to host donation events. Our commitment to sustainability ensures that donated items are kept out of landfills. Connect with us today and join our work to create a truly inclusive world and protect the environment.
