Able!: How One Company's Extraordinary Workforce Changed the Way We Look at Disability Today

In a time when companies are outsourcing abroad, Habitat International, a Tennessee-based carpet manufacturer, has managed to achieve superior levels of productivity at home, often two to three times greater than its competition. Habitat’s business has grown enormously, with much of its new business coming from work outsourced to them by competitors who could not come close to matching its productivity.

Habitat’s secret: they hire the people no one else will.

At Habitat three of every four workers have a physical or mental disability. They earn normal wages and are cross-trained on every job. They work harder, with less supervision, lower turnover and an unparalleled level of loyalty. The challenges have been significant; the rewards extraordinary.

This is Habitat’s story. It’s a powerful and moving tale of personal courage, deep commitment and challenging expectations. It’s a story of success and personal triumph. It’ll change the way you think about business … and the people around you.

Nancy Henderson is an award-winning writer who has published hundreds of articles in major periodicals including The New York Times, Parade, Smithsonian, Southwest Airlines Spirit and Woman's Day. She is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors and the Authors Guild. 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 Inc. He lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Randy Lewis is a senior vice president of distribution and logistics for Walgreens and spearheaded the innovative 2006 initiative to increase hiring of people with disabilities through the website www.walgreensoutreach.com. He lives in Barrington, Illinois.