Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, right, is teaming up with Best Buddies to encourage more businesses to hire people with developmental disabilities. Slim and Bill Gates, left, regularly hold the top two slots on Forbes’ list of the world’s richest people. (Tim Johnson/MCT)

One of the richest people in the world is calling on employers to join him in hiring people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim and Best Buddies founder Anthony Shriver kicked off a new campaign Tuesday to encourage expanded employment opportunities for people with intellectual disability, autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and other special needs.

Dubbed “I’m in to Hire,” the awareness campaign calls on people — whether they are in a position to hire individuals with disabilities or not — to sign an online pledge to advocate for inclusive workplaces.

“It is our responsibility and commitment to help solve the problems of our society, complementing the government’s efforts,” said Slim, who made his fortune in the telecom industry and regularly ranks number one or two on Forbes’ list of the world’s wealthiest people.

“The ‘I’m in to Hire’ campaign is challenging all of us around the world to open our minds and consider people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as qualified, dependable, employable candidates. These individuals are dedicated, skilled workers and it is clear that their involvement in the economic activity is relevant for all of society,” Slim said.

As of 2013, 85 percent of people with developmental disabilities did not have a paid job in the community, according to data from National Core Indicators, a joint effort of the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services and the Human Services Research Institute.

In addition to Slim, campaign organizers said actresses Cheryl Hines and Lauren Potter as well as former Olympic track and field star Carl Lewis have already taken the “I’m in to Hire” pledge.

A report released by the Institute for Corporate Productivity in conjunction with the launch of the campaign indicates that most employers who hired people with developmental disabilities reported having a positive experience. What’s more, the majority of employers found workers with disabilities to be highly motivated, the report said.

Read more stories like this one. Sign up for Disability Scoop's free email newsletter to get the latest developmental disability news sent straight to your inbox.