The ROI of Disability Inclusion Ft. Mark Wafer w/Anita Nowak - Purposeful Empathy

Disability inclusion isn’t charity—it’s smart business built on untapped strength. In this special series devoted to widening our circle of empathy for people who often feel marginalized or misunderstood, listen to this uplifting episode featuring Mark Wafer, one of the world’s most respected champions of disability inclusion.Mark is the former longtime owner of 14 Tim Hortons restaurants, where he and his wife built a globally recognized model for inclusive employment. Over 25 years, they employed hundreds of people with disabilities across every level of their business—proving that inclusion isn’t just the right thing to do, it also boosts the bottom line. Drawing from his lived experience with deafness, Mark shares how small, intentional changes can radically transform workplaces, communities, and lives.Together, we explore:Debunking common myths and stereotypes about hiring people with disabilitiesThe impact of inclusion beyond complianceThe business case for disability inclusion, from lower turnover to higher innovationHow inclusive workplaces turn purposeful empathy into competitive advantageWhether you’re a business leader or simply curious, this conversation will expand how you think about disability and inclusion.00:00 Preview00:54 Introduction 02:47 About Mark Wafer06:25 Mark’s backstory09:02 Mark’s message to disabled youth and their parents11:51 What made Mark resilient as a young deaf student15:00 Mark’s journey into business ownership21:47 The business case for disability26:25 Why do inclusive employers perform better?31:15 How does diversity build stronger companies?33:53 Why disability rates in Canada are rising every year41:07 The true cost of disability exclusion in organizations46:58 Disability etiquette: ask before assuming49:17 How to include people with disabilities52:15 Mark Wafer’s Purposeful Empathy storyCONNECT WITH ANITA✩ Email [email protected] ✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.socialCONNECT WITH MARK✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/markwafer/SHOW NOTES✩ The Power of Kindness, Dr. Brian Goodman https://www.amazon.com/Power-Kindness-Empathy-Essential-Everyday/dp/1443451061Video edited by Jad Misri, Green Horizon Studio