YAI and FedEx partner to support employment of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Nonprofit YAI has partnered with FedEx to create work opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The effort also coincides with National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

“Everybody says how inclusive they are … but they don't think of people with cognitive developmental disabilities as a part of being totally inclusive,” Bonnie Holtzman, YAI’s deputy director of day and employment services told New York Nonprofit Media. “Everybody has the right to work, no matter who you are, what it looks like, for each person it looks different.”

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities typically do not have access to employment opportunities, according to Holtzman. The new partnership with FedEx hopes to change that by placing participants in part-time positions at FedEx. Those who do not get hired still benefit from learning how to write a resume and work experience they gained, which they can take to other companies, such as Amazon or UPS.

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities had few work opportunities before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. “They (employers) may not have thought of, or people with developmental disabilities prior to the pandemic as a viable candidate source. But now they do to some degree,” Holtzman said. “We're still not where I would like us to be. I still would like there to be more people with disabilities employed. But the pandemic has opened up doors that were close to us in the past.”

Participants are treated just like all other FedEx employees and are given badges and uniforms. Through this partnership, YAI hopes to combat the stigmas that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities tend to face when it comes to employment and show that they can bring valuable skills to many employers.