An Innovative Perspective on Disability at ATF GAIA and ESAT Les Palmiers

Academic studies of the management of innovation have seldom, if ever, considered the contribution made by companies that specialize in the employment of people with disabilities. The experiences of two French organizations—ATF GAIA (a subsidiary of ATF) in Brest, France, and an ESAT (Etablissement et Service d'Aide par le Travail, a service to provide help through work), in Hyeres Les Palmiers, France—demonstrate that it is possible for such organizations to capture opportunities connected with the sustainability agenda and develop some singular kinds of innovation. Both success stories can inspire similar accomplishments in any company, regardless of the industry or composition of its workforce. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.