When good is no longer good enough: Transitioning to greatness

Abstract

More than 50 years after the Civil Rights Bill banned racial segregation in the workplace, people with disabilities continue to face a culture that largely accepts their segregation and discrimination as a matter of course. Many organizations are challenged by the status quo today: Isn't providing employment services to people with disabilities the way we always have good enough? The answer: Absolutely not! Jim Collins (2001) proposes that good is the enemy of great. Fortunately, moving from good to great is not a function of circumstance; it doesn't take a revolutionary process. "Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice" (Collins, 2001, p. 11). Making a commitment to community-based services and Employment First practices is also a matter of choice and discipline. OBJECTIVE: This article will explore the principles of Good to Great and apply them to the transition from traditional day services to community-based employment services. CONCLUSION:Making a cultural change from good to great requires a lot of effort, but everyone should have the opportunity to have a great, meaningful life, and meaningful work.