Small Acts, Big Equity: How “Make a Difference Day” Becomes a 365-Day Strategy at Las Trampas

The first time I watched a Las Trampas participant lead a garden volunteer crew, I realized we were underestimating the word “difference.” He wasn’t a “client” waiting for help; he was the foreman—assigning roles, cracking jokes, and pulling everyone into the work. By lunch, shy new volunteers were swapping stories, a local manager was asking about internships, and one participant was proudly saying, I show people what I can do. That’s a business case for inclusion—rooted in everyday actions that compound like interest.

Why this matters now—beyond one Saturday in October

On National Make a Difference Day, our message is simple: Adults with IDD are leaders, friends, and neighbors. The data backs up why centering their leadership isn’t charity—it’s strategy.

Scope of the opportunity: More than 1 in 4 U.S. adults—over 70 million people—report having a disability. If your product, hiring, or community strategy doesn’t include disabled adults, it’s missing the market by a mile. (cdc.gov)

Untapped talent: In 2024, only 22.7% of people with disabilities were employed, compared with 65.5% of those without disabilities. Translation: massive skill sitting on the sidelines because of design barriers, not lack of ability. (bls.gov)

Proof it pays: Companies leading in disability inclusion show, on average, 28% higher revenue and 30% higher profit margins than peers. Talent + access + belonging equals performance. That’s not soft; that’s P&L. (newsroom.accenture.com)

At Las Trampas our programming lives this out: Making a difference doesn’t always mean big gestures. It’s supported employment, peer leadership, art shows that become sales, and volunteer days where participants run point. Small acts; big equity.

From volunteer moment to talent pipeline

If you run a company or foundation, volunteering isn’t just optics—it’s infrastructure for hiring and partnership.

People who volunteer are 27% more likely to secure employment than non-volunteers. For those without a high school diploma and for rural volunteers, the odds jump to 51% and 55%. When your team shows up, you’re not “helping for a day”; you’re building mobility. (americorps.gov)

And yes, this holiday is real: Make a Difference Day is observed the fourth Saturday in October—an easy anchor for a fall service sprint that kicks off year-round engagement. (nationaldaycalendar.com)

At Las Trampas, participants aren’t sidekicks on volunteer day—they’re the captains. You’ll see task boards, inclusive roles, and moments where someone says, I volunteer because I love helping others. That leadership muscle transfers beautifully into the workplace.

The operating system of inclusion: design beats intent

Good intentions won’t hire anyone. Good design will.

Supported employment works. Research shows young adults with intellectual disabilities who receive supported employment are more likely to get competitive, integrated jobs, earn higher wages, and work more hours than similar peers who don’t. We build those supports into employer partnerships so you’re not guessing. (journals.sagepub.com)

Macro reality check: Even after a series-high employment-population ratio in 2023, people with disabilities still face more than double the unemployment rate of nondisabled peers. Your systems—not their skills—are usually the bottleneck. (bls.gov)

Our approach is pragmatic: job carving, manager coaching, visual SOPs, sensory-aware workspaces, and feedback loops that actually change schedules, workflows, and culture. You wouldn’t hand a chef a butter knife to shuck an oyster; don’t hand teams “awareness” and call it a hiring plan.

The story we tell—because the data demands it

At Las Trampas, we hold two truths: the numbers are stark, and the solutions are close at hand. When participants say, I make a difference by being a good friend, they’re also modeling the culture your company needs—reliability, collaboration, and pride in work. When we say, At Las Trampas, when we lift each other up, we all shine brighter, we mean shareholders, too.

So yes, celebrate National Make a Difference Day with us. But don’t stop there. Make it your on-ramp to a year of inclusion that moves hiring metrics, strengthens community ties, and proves what we see here every day: belonging isn’t a cost center—it’s a growth strategy. And the smartest founders in the room build for it.

#MakeADifference #Volunteer #Kindness #Charity