Able!: How One Company's Disabled Workforce Became The Key To Extraordinary Success [Paperback]

Nancy Wurst (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 10, 2005

This inspiring story tells how Habitat International's dramatic success can be attributed to their novel hiring practice in which three out of every four workers has a physical or mental disability or both. Ranging from employees with schizophrenia driving forklifts alongside colleagues with Down's syndrome, autism, and cerebral palsy, to recovering alcoholics, and deaf people cutting floor runners next to homeless workers filling orders for Sears, The Home Depot, and Lowes, Habitat's work force exemplifies how alternative hiring practices can be profitable. This thought-provoking text explores the initial and ongoing challenges of a company with disabled employees, describes how Habitat became a role model for companies across the United States and shares individual success stories about the workers, along with advice and concrete tips for entrepreneurs who want to set up a disability-hiring program.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Nancy Henderson Wurst has written for Family Circle, The New York Times, Parade, and Women's Day. She has won two Print Journalism Equality, Dignity, and Independence Awards from Easter Seals. She lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee. David Morris is the CEO of Habitat International. He lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Product Details

• Paperback: 207 pages
• Publisher: BenBella Books (April 10, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 193210044X
• ISBN-13: 978-1932100440
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,096,479 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Miracles Can Happen, June 8, 2005

By 

Steven Wall "Steven Wall" (Santa Barbara , C.A.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Able!: How One Company's Disabled Workforce Became The Key To Extraordinary Success (Paperback)

This book should be read by every C.E.O. who cares about his employees and wants to improve his company profitability; and should be required reading in every H. R. Department and business School. Mr. Morris has shown great courage and vision. He and Ms. Henderson-Wurst deserve to be given as much prime time publicity as possible to showcase the people in their book. I am 53 years old, born with Cerebral Palsy, trained as an Attorney, in London. I have never met an employer, with the vision of Mr Morris.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Able Will Inspire You, June 8, 2005

By 

Joe Harmon (Chattanooga, TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Able!: How One Company's Disabled Workforce Became The Key To Extraordinary Success (Paperback)

I am lucky enough to know David Morris personally, he is an inspiration in my life. Nancy Henderson Wurst captures in this book what David brings to the world, and we all need to know that compassion CAN live in the successful business world. I've also been lucky enough to meet some of those who David hired, persons who were "unhirable" by traditional standards. Wow, what a thing it is to see ABLE where others see "disabled". Just imagine what that does for that person. David brings compassion, harmony and ease into the bigtime corporate world and into the lives of everyone around him. Seeing David live his life, run his business and accept others is a major catalyst for the creation of a new business venture I am bringing to the world. Just last night I figured out how to also involve ABLED persons into the mix! It took 2 months of brainstorming but now I get to also try to make a little difference in the world, and I feel great ..thanks to David! No kidding, if you are a business person who has a yearning to also contribute to the world AS you do business then you should read this little book, I bet you WILL find some possibilities in there that will bring beauty to your life ..and to others. Have a good day.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great story, stilted, repetitive writing, November 8, 2009

By 

P. Cleaveland "Pete" (Tiger, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Able!: How One Company's Disabled Workforce Became The Key To Extraordinary Success (Kindle Edition)

This is an eye-opening, inspirational story. The writing is repetitive and eventually the story becomes boring because of this. But don't lose sight of the fabulous story.