Nevada businesses that embrace employees with intellectual & developmental disabilities

Here are 6 Nevada businesses committed to hiring people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs).

Nevada’s workforce, like its population, is comprised of employees from all walks of life. Along with a focus on women and minorities, these diverse workplaces often foster inclusivity for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs).

According to Laura Foster, Director of Communications for the nonprofit Opportunity Village (OV), companies in the Silver State are often more open to hiring people with IDDs than not. 

“Las Vegas is a pretty charitable town and there are tons of organizations and businesses that directly employ people with disabilities,” she said. “Businesses [who hire those with IDDs] find out they’ve hired wonderful employees, and can’t afford to lose them.”

It’s not just Southern Nevada. The Carson Valley Roasting Plant and Distribution Center, for instance, became the site of the nation’s first Starbucks Inclusion Academy in 2014. Many of its graduates have gone on to work at Starbucks throughout the state.

From a small, independent coffee shop to an international corporation, here are six Nevada businesses that are committed to hiring people with IDDs.

1. Dig it! Coffee Co. 

Downtown Las Vegas

Most of us have a favorite coffee shop, whether it be for the well-crafted drinks, cool atmosphere, or friendly staff. People enjoy Dig it! Coffee Co. for all of the above, plus its commitment to inclusivity, equity, and kindness.

Located in the heart of the Las Vegas Arts District, Dig it! is a locally-owned small business, built to employ people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. The company provides job training, mentorship, and competitive wages for adults of all abilities while serving a nice-sized menu of food and drinks in a positive and inclusive work environment. 

Coffee drinks like the Peanut Butter Cup and Flutter Nutter lattes are made from locally sourced beans. The seasonal menu also has Matchas and lemonades, including a sparkling blue Bath Water Lemonade, served with a rubber ducky. Food choices range from pastries and cookies to avocado toast, açaí bowls, and burritos.

A regular hangout for many customers and a great place to do remote work, Dig It! Is described by Yelpers as “Instagrammable” and filled with “happy vibes.” with helpful staff.

“Honestly, we need more places like this,” writes one Yelper, adding that Dig It! Deserves “all the good karma because they’re all wonderful humans, which we need more of.”

2. Opportunity Village

Las Vegas

Over the past 70 years, the nonprofit Opportunity Village (OV) has aided in the growth and development of people with significant disabilities through programs and services, including job training. The organization oversees four training center campuses for workforce development in the Las Vegas Valley.

In addition to job training and other services, OV operates an umbrella of local businesses that employ the IDD community. One such company is PaperPros, located at 451 E. Lake Mead Parkway in Henderson. Customers have nothing but good things to say about this highly-rated company, which provides professional shredding services at low rates. “The joy of working with OV, their efficiency and cheerful atmosphere, I will not consider going anywhere else for shredding,” writes one Yelper. 

Other businesses under the OV auspices are the Opportunity Village Thrift Store, OV Cleans, Print Pals & Mail Masters, Button Brigade, and OV Solutions. The organization’s highly popular special events and fundraisers, including the Magical Forest, HallOVeen, and the Las Vegas Great Santa Run, are another means for IDD employment. 

Overall, OV has paid out nearly $3.7 million in wages and benefits to adults with disabilities in our community. 

3. The PENTA Building Group

Las Vegas

Recently honored by OV for its commitment to the IDD community, The PENTA Building Group is a nationally recognized commercial general contractor. The company has been involved with OV for 15 years and is committed to cultivating a culture of caring. 

Not only does PENTA employ people with IDDs, but it has also donated $9 million to various nonprofit organizations through its PENTA Cares Foundation, including Opportunity Village. In a video about PENTA’s relationship with OV, Office Coordinator Sandy Johnson has high praise for Greg and Andrew, two employees referred to Penta by OV.

“We love working with Greg and Andrew here at PENTA they have been a tremendous help and they are a pleasure to be around,” she says, adding, “They make my day much easier.”

4. Polar Shades

Henderson

Family-owned Polar Shades is a local manufacturer of interior and exterior window shades. Though its roots are in the Las Vegas Valley, the company distributes products across the United States, Canada, and Europe. 

Polar Shades strives to provide quality products and great customer service, as well as inclusivity. Owner Steve Mevius works with VR Nevada to secure employment at his company for IDD employees, including a couple of people in the inventory control department. 

In a video on the VR Nevada website, he explains that IDD employees are no different than any other employee, noting “There’s no complaints, they have a smile on their face, and the other employees enjoy interacting with them.” 

In a time when it’s hard to find people who want to come to work and work, he appreciates that his IDD employees take pride in doing the job right with a sense of pride and accomplishment, adding, “What some may consider a disability we consider an ability.”

5. Starbucks Roasting Facility

Minden

You may only think of Starbucks as a place to get an expensive cup of coffee, but it turns out there is much more going on behind the scenes in the Silver State. Minden is home to a Starbucks roasting facility known as the Carson Valley Roasting Plant and Distribution Center. In 2014, the roasting facility became the site of the first Starbucks Inclusion Academy, a collaboration between Starbucks and the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR). 

Dedicated to on-the-job training for people with cognitive and physical disabilities, the six-week academy helps those with IDDs gain skills and work experience in manufacturing and distribution. Participants receive three hours of classroom instruction and three hours of work each day for the first four weeks, followed by a two-week internship in the Starbucks facility.

Many of those who have completed the Starbucks Inclusion Academy program have gone on to be hired at Starbucks stores. The program has been so successful that Starbucks decided to expand the program to New York.

6. Amazon

Las Vegas, Henderson, Reno

An enormous company offering a wide variety of job opportunities at its warehouses throughout Nevada, Amazon has been widely recognized for its commitment to creating a workplace with an inclusive culture. The company has a wide range of diversity and inclusion programs, including Amazon People with Disabilities (AmazonPwD), a community that supports associates with mental and/or physical disabilities. 

Not only is Amazon committed to strengthening its recruitment of disabled talent, the company strives to develop products that work well for everyone. To do this, Amazon gives people with disabilities a seat at the table when designing technology, ensuring that all customers can be connected, entertained, and independent. 

Additionally, Amazon provides one-on-one virtual coaching and on-the-job accommodations for associates with qualifying disabilities, ensuring that employees can perform the essential functions of their jobs safely.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.