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Business Daily: Disability at Work

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Disability at Work

23/02/2017 GMT

BBC World Service - Business Daily, Disability at Work

A billion are disabled worldwide and many are excluded from jobs. Are firms missing out?

One billion people are disabled worldwide and many are jobless, because of prejudice, social exclusion and practical obstacles. But are firms missing an opportunity here?

One billion people are disabled worldwide and a high proportion are jobless, because of prejudice, social exclusion and practical obstacles. But are firms missing an opportunity here? We hear stories from disabled workers in Egypt, South Africa and in Mumbai in India, where a perfumier is providing work for blind people, having discovered they have a heightened sense of smell.

Rich Donovan is a globally recognised expert on how firms can cash in the opportunities of the disability market. He's CEO of The Return on Disability Group. He has cerebral palsy himself, but has nonetheless charted a successful career in high-level corporate finance. He tells presenter Ed Butler that there's a clear commercial opportunity for companies to invest in disabled staff.

Also we are joined by Kate Nash of the UK consultancy Purple Space, which advises firms on how best to employ and retain disabled people. She explains the types of obstacles, real and mythical, that are preventing employers tapping in on the disabled talent pool.

(Picture: Blind fragrance tester Ravi Maniar on his train commute to work; Credit: BBC)

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