the UNIFIED THEATER blog

When you think of the corporate world, what comes to mind? Is it a tall man in a suit and tie?  Is your boss an ice queen? These stereotypes of the workplace are slowly shedding away; companies are seeing the benefit bringing different personalities, perspectives, backgrounds, and abilities into their offices and operations.

In her article, “Lowe’s Ramps Up Disability Inclusion,” Owen discusses her business  “Opportunity Works, ” a program that finds adults with disabilities employment in the workforce. Instantly, within the first paragraph of the article, I admired Owen’s ability to shatter stereotypes within the corporate world and fight traditional bureaucracy. But as I read more of the article, I realized that Own did create Opportunity Works to “change government systems, but to improve the employment rate of people with disabilities. We can’t do this alone. We need customers, other employers to start recognizing the value of including disability in the workplace.” Owen is not trying to fight bureaucracy.  Owen is not trying to take away the “corporate” stereotype, she is trying to include everyone and make everyone realize the benefits of inclusion. Owen modestly also recognizes that she is part of a greater solution to change people’s attitudes about inclusion. In fact, Owen’s perspective on her nonprofit “Opportunity Works” shows true inclusion. Owen does not take credit for starting to change corporate attitudes and acknowledges everyone who contributed to this solution.

Because companies are not mandated by certain acts or not pressured into the program, the companies themselves are driven to change.  There is no outside force compelling them to change, companies on their own realize that it will be more successful when people of  “all abilities” use their skills to collaborate together.  The first company to practice the inclusion model was Walgreens. Lowes administrators even visited Walgreens to learn “first handily” how to accommodate people with disabilities and, before consulting Owen, already organized different accommodations.

Unified Theater is a part of a greater solution that changes attitudes and promotes positive understandings of the value of people with disabilities and inclusion on its own. Middle and high school students such as the students in Unified Theater, demonstrate the benefits and values of inclusion. Thank you to all of the Unified Theater students who demonstrated that the inclusion model is the only model. You guys are truly the role models!