Turning Disability into a Superpower: Creating an Inclusive Business Culture

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Disability isn't a limitation—it's a superpower. That's the transformative message Kevin McCann brings to our latest conversation on the Fit to Grit podcast. Born with cerebral palsy that affects his ability to walk independently, Kevin has turned his lived experience into a powerful platform for advocacy and business transformation.

After being rejected by ten consecutive news directors who saw his disability as a liability rather than recognizing his qualifications, Kevin reinvented himself as a speaker who helps businesses understand the competitive advantage of inclusive hiring. The irony? Organizations now pay him to tell the story others once rejected.

"Hiring someone with a disability isn't charity," Kevin emphasizes during our conversation. "It allows you to create a competitive advantage over your competition." He backs this claim with compelling statistics: 63% of people with disabilities don't require accommodations at all, and 80% of accommodations cost less than $500. Meanwhile, 92% of consumers support businesses that employ people with disabilities.

Kevin's framework—the Three C's of Culture, Commitment, and Connection—provides a roadmap for organizations looking to build more inclusive environments. For fitness facilities specifically, Kevin offers practical insights on how inclusive hiring can expand clientele and improve systems. People with disabilities excel in roles requiring routine and structure, making them ideal candidates for positions like membership engagement representatives or front-desk staff.

Perhaps most powerfully, Kevin shares examples of how simple accommodations can lead to extraordinary outcomes, like the McDonald's employee with a disability who, with some basic systems in place, went on to win Employee of the Year. "It's all about making systems and processes more efficient and effective," Kevin notes. "The most effective way you can do that is to have a diverse workforce."

Ready to transform your understanding of disability and business? Listen to this episode, then connect with Kevin at kevinmccanspeaks.com or through his podcast "Let's Have This Conversation." Your next competitive advantage might be hiding in plain sight.

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