By MARK CRONIN //
In times of tragedy, our words matter.
We witnessed 67 people lose their lives, suddenly tossing mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, friends, coworkers and teammates into the darkest grief. In moments like these, we must resist the urge to jump to conclusions.
President Trump, I heard what you said about the plane crash in Washington, when you suggested that the hiring of people with intellectual developmental disabilities contributed to the tragedy.
As the father of a young man with Down syndrome and an employer of people with differing abilities, I feel compelled to respond – not in anger, but to open a dialogue.
I am not calling you out. Instead, I would like to invite you in, to learn more about what people with intellectual developmental disabilities can do and the contributions they are already making to our society and economy.
Mark Cronin: Teaching moment.
Let’s not blame people with differing abilities. Let’s not return to a time when they were shunned and ostracized. I want you to see how people with differing abilities contribute to our schools, workplaces and communities.
Across our nation and industries, people with differing abilities prove every day that they are valuable, skilled and reliable employees. Companies like Microsoft, Walgreens and Ernst & Young have built successful programs hiring neurodiverse employees because they see their talent, not their limitations.
As an employer, I can assure you that no organization – least of all the Federal Aviation Administration – knowingly places individuals in roles for which they are unqualified. Every air traffic controller undergoes intensive training and testing to ensure he or she meets the highest standards. The same applies to every pilot, engineer and safety inspector.
The inclusion of people with differing abilities does not mean lowering the bar; it means assessing skills fairly and placing people where they can succeed. That is not to say that no one made a mistake (in the DC crash), but if mistakes were made, it was not because someone had an intellectual developmental disability.
Come one, come all: More than half of all John’s Crazy Socks employees have a differing ability.
Mr. President, I invite you to see firsthand what inclusion looks like. Visit John’s Crazy Socks. Meet my son, John. He is an entrepreneur like you and a leader (EY named him Entrepreneur of the Year). More than half of our colleagues have a differing ability. Meet them. See their dedication, talent and hard work – not their limitations.
I believe that if you see this in action, you’ll understand why so many businesses, large and small, are embracing inclusive hiring as a competitive advantage.
America’s strength comes from the contributions of all its people. Never be blinded by a person’s limitations – be awed by his or her possibilities. When we focus on what individuals can do, rather than what they cannot, we build a stronger, more inclusive society.
That’s the future and I hope you will lead us there.
Mark Cronin is co-founder and president of Melville-based John’s Crazy Socks.
