NEW ALBANY, Ind. (WDRB) --It's not even summer yet, but Cody Burke has already been spending a lot of time out in the sun.  

"Cutting grass, and taking care of landscaping and stuff like that," Burke said in describing his responsibilities.

He's the kind of guy who loves manual labor, and the perks that come with it. "Being outside, you get to make money, get dirty," he explained. 

Burke isn't doing the work alone. He's part of a team. "They go out there, they hustle, they get the jobs done," explained landscape manager John Padgen.

This sounds like the standard landscaping company, right? Not exactly. Each worker with Rauch, Inc. Landscaping and Lawn Care has an intellectual or developmental disability.

"They're trying their best to fit in with society and grow," Padgen said. 

Accomplishing that goal is not always easy. "A lot of people, they have these preconceived notions," Padgen said.

"Unfortunately, a lot of times, they're assuming we can do a lot less than we can," said Teressa Jackson from Rauch, Inc.

When people see the work happening and when projects are complete, stereotypes are shattered instantly.

"Performance speaks louder than words," said Padgen.

He's talking about the nicely placed mulch, perfectly planted shrubs, and immaculate lawns. The crew knows what it's doing, and it's shaping workers like Cody for the future.

"All of that really helps them continue to build their skills and build a basis for their whole job career," Jackson told WDRB.

It's also bringing people back year after year. 

"They start to really feel a connection for what we do and the people that we are working with." she added.

The landscaping program is newer, but Rauch, Inc. is not. The company has been helping those with disabilities for over 60 years by giving them work in other areas like packaging and assembly.

"It's very rewarding to be able to know that I was able to make a difference in someone's life," Padgen said.

The company is accomplishing that feat while also giving well-deserving, good people like Burke jobs they deserve.

Copyright 2015 WDRB News. All Rights Reserved.