More companies are employing people with disabilities in leadership roles than last year, confirmed a new report. It also revealed that more firms are seeking people with disabilities for leadership and boardroom roles in a bid to modernise disability inclusion.
Currently more than a quarter of companies (126 out of 415) have a senior executive with a disability, confirmed The 2022 Disability Equality Index (DEI); a global benchmarking tool for measuring disability inclusion in business from Disability:IN.
The latest report carried out by Disability:IN, a global organisation driving disability inclusion and equality in business, in collaboration with the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), also found that companies are trying to make their corporate boards of directors more inclusive of people with disabilities.
DISABILITY INCLUSION TRENDS
A record 415 companies – including 69 Fortune 100 firms – participated in Disability:IN’s 2022 DEI. This year saw 30% growth of participating companies; up from 319 in 2021. This year’s report, also revealed the following trends:
- Leadership diversity: 126 companies have a senior executive (the CEO or within the first two layers reporting to the CEO) internally known as being a person with a disability. This compares to 99 in 2021.
- Boardroom diversity: 10% of companies now have documents that govern nominations of board directors that specifically mention consideration of people with disabilities. Additionally 6% have someone who openly identifies as having a disability serving on their company’s corporate board.
- Supplier diversity: Three-quarters (74%) of companies have expenditures with disability-owned businesses.
In addition, the DEI shows a high level of engagement in ongoing disability inclusion practices such as:
- Accommodations: The majority of companies (96%) offer flexible work options.
- Recruiting: Around 60% of companies have external disability hiring goals.
- Accessibility: Half (50%) are investing in innovative technology to advance digital accessibility.
ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
“Disability inclusion is the new frontier of ESG investing and corporate social responsibility. To prepare for the future and create sustainable businesses, companies must engage their stakeholders with disabilities and weave disability inclusion into everything they do,” stated Ted Kennedy, Jr, Co-chair of the Disability Equality Index and board member of AAPD. “We commend the companies that are taking demonstrated, actionable steps to unlock opportunities for people with disabilities at all levels of a company, including in boardroom roles.”
The global talent shortage requires companies to rethink how they hire, develop and cultivate talent, according to the report. “Disability inclusion is now a business imperative,” highlighted Disability:IN’s President and CEO Jill Houghton. “The DEI helps companies identify and incorporate the modern practices that are essential to disability inclusion, equality and belonging. These companies are positioned to win the talent war, strengthen diversity, improve profitability and shareholder returns, and achieve sustainable growth.”
You can download the full report here.
A recent report revealed the shocking state of disability representation in business. Click here to continue reading.
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