
As the ad industry tries to move forward with initiatives to improve diversity and inclusion, people with intellectual and development disabilities still tend to be forgotten.
Now a group of industry leaders have joined forces to open Creative Spirit, a nonprofit that’s dedicated to matching people with disabilities like Down Syndrome, Williams Syndrome, autism and Asperger Syndrome with careers at creative companies. So far, the group says it has more than 50 companies interested and commitments to participate from Fallon, Deutsch, Colgate, Publicis, A&E, Independent Media, CMS, Joan Creative, Digital Foundation and the independent agency Rauxa.
Droga5 Creative Chairman David Nobay began an early iteration of Creative Spirit in Australia in 2008. Two years ago, Nobay started planning a U.S. version with Laurel Rossi, chief marketing officer of Rauxa and mother of a 16-year-old daughter with Williams Syndrome, and Ad Club New York President-CEO Gina Grillo. Publicis Groupe, especially Jeff Kling, chief creative officer at the Publicis agency Fallon, has also played a big role, says Rossi.
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