Also read: IBM, beliefs, disability, accommodations, corporate values

Twenty-eight years ago, when Jim Sinocchi's life changed in an instant, they called the corporate culture that helped save him "basic beliefs." Today, they call it "values."

By whatever name, IBM's long history of inclusiveness and taking care of its own gave Sinocchi a lifeline when he most needed it. (IBM is No. 10 on The 2009 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity® list.)

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Sinocchi was working in IBM's sales support in New York City in 1980 and also was an assistant swimming coach at City College of New York. In December of that year, he went with the swim team to Puerto Rico and broke his neck body surfing. He had two unsuccessful surgeries in Puerto Rico--and was read his last rites--and came home paralyzed from the neck down. Sinocchi thought his life was over. But IBM had other ideas.

"I told them I didn't know what I could do, and they said, 'We'll figure it out,'" he recalls. Based on his degree in English (he also has a master's degree in public administration), he thought he'd try communications.

IBM told him to come in when he could. "This was way before the days of flex time. It saved me. I didn't have the endurance to come to work every day," he says.

Since that time, Sinocchi has contributed greatly to the company, rising to his current position of director, Workforce Communications, at corporate headquarters. He has become a master at getting IBM's message across clearly and distinctly, especially when it involves diversity and inclusiveness.

He also volunteers as co-chair for IBM's People With Disabilities Global Executive Task Force, which is in the process of setting up the A&D (Accessibility and Disability Central) program to manage disability accommodations globally for IBM employees.

"IBM's culture hasn't ever lost sight of its values. This company is comfortable in its own skin," he says.

This article appeared in the May/June 2009 issue of DiversityInc magazine. Click here to read the digital version of this story.