Dana received the 2018 Best Companies for Disabled Workers Award from the government of the state of São Paulo. This award recognizes 15 large companies in Brazil for their practices of employability for workers with disabilities.
Since 2013, Dana in Gravataí implemented a program for hiring people with moderate intellectual disabilities. Powered by a 440-hour paid internship program, participants are required to undergo 800-hours of training that combine theory and practice prior to being hired based on their technical and behavioral skills. The program trains students from 18 to 45 years in subjects such as etiquette, expedition, quality, and safety. Up to now, almost sixty people have been trained in four classes, and half of the group has been employed working in several areas of the company, including the operation of machines.
The broad approach, which combines capacity building, sensitization, application opportunity, and talent development, fosters individual, family, and company engagement. Most importantly, it helps to build long-term relationships that promote social and economic inclusion in a sustainable way for people with disabilities helping them to be a valued part of society.
In recognition of its social inclusion work, the company also received the ECO Award from AmCham Brazil, American Chamber of Commerce.