June 11, 2015
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and the US Business Leadership Network® (USBLN®) officially announced the results of the first annual Disability Equality IndexSM (DEISM) survey.
The DEI, a joint initiative of AAPD and the USBLN, is a national, transparent benchmarking tool that offers businesses an opportunity to receive an objective assessment of their overall disability inclusion policies and practices. It is an aspirational, educational, recognition tool that goes far beyond legal compliance, helping companies identify opportunities for continued improvement, while building their reputations as organizations that value diversity and inclusion.
The 2014 DEI was completed by 80 Fortune 1000-size companies in early 2015, who were notified of their results in late April. Nineteen of these companies received 100 out of 100 on the survey, which recognizes a broad range of workplace, supply chain and marketplace activities. Points are awarded in four major categories: Culture & Leadership, Enterprise-wide Access, Employment Practices, and Community Engagement & Support Services. Companies receive points in any given category by demonstrating that they embrace a significant portion of the numerous best practices outlined in each section.
The nineteen top-scoring companies for the 2014 DEI were, in alphabetical order:
- Ameren Corporation
- AT&T
- Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.
- Capital One Financial Corporation
- Comcast Corporation
- Ernst & Young LLP
- Florida Blue
- Freddie Mac
- Highmark Health
- JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Lockheed Martin Corporation
- Northrop Grumman Corporation
- Pacific Gas and Electric Company
- Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP (PwC)
- Procter & Gamble
- Qualcomm Incorporated
- Sprint Corporation
- Starbucks Coffee Company
- TD Bank N.A.
By scoring 100 points, these companies demonstrated significant business leadership, going far beyond compliance activities, driving their business success through leading disability inclusion policies and practices. Their leadership will be celebrated at a special awards reception on Capitol Hill on July 30th, in conjunction with the Washington D.C. celebration of the 25th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Helena Berger, Acting President and CEO of AAPD said, "I am extremely pleased with the results of this ground-breaking collaboration between members of the business and disability communities. It’s a real testament to what can happen when people work together toward shared goals.” Berger, who also co-chaired the DEI Advisory Committee, a diverse group of business leaders, policy experts, and disability-rights advocates that created the DEI on behalf of AAPD and the USBLN, goes on to say, “I really believe this initiative will change the landscape of inclusion practices across the country for years come, and help fulfill the promise of equal employment opportunity for people with disabilities made by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 25 years ago.”
"We are thrilled to be able to recognize these business leaders, who are truly setting an example for the business community,” said Jill Houghton, Executive Director of the USBLN. “We’re also tremendously excited by the level of overall participation in, and support for, the DEI,” adding that numerous survey participants expressed enthusiasm about improving their practices in the coming months and years, in direct response to their survey participation. “Even in its first year, the DEI is already moving the needle in the disability inclusion arena.”
Fellow Advisory Committee Co-chair and former Chief People Officer for AMC theatres, Keith Wiedenkeller, added “The truth is, that 25-years after the passage of the ADA, we still haven’t effectively leveraged the untapped potential of the disability community as consumers, employees, or suppliers. I’m hopeful that the DEI’s focus on encouragement and recognition, while still setting a high bar, will help move the Disability Inclusion conversation from compliance to competitive advantage.” Wiedenkeller now serves in a consulting role to the DEI project, helping to take the DEI into 2016 and beyond.
An official list of DEI top-scoring leaders, as well as other companies that scored 80 or more points on the 2014 DEI, can be accessed on the DEI web-page, at https://www.disabilityequalityindex.org/top_companies.aspx, or through links on the AAPD or USBLN websites.
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