According to a 2023 Accenture report, developed in collaboration with Disability:IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities, organizations that implement disability-inclusive policies and practices often have better financial performance than similar organizations. Examples of disability-inclusive practices include using captioned videos and regularly soliciting feedback from employees with disabilities on areas for improvement.
The report expands and builds on a similar report from 2018, which surveyed 346 U.S. companies participating in the Disability Equality Index. Compared to similarly sized companies, companies utilizing disability-inclusive policies were more likely to:
Revenues will be six times higher, net profits will be six times higher, and economic profits will be doubled.
The report authors also note that Glassdoor reviews of companies that participate in the Disability Equality Index mention disability inclusion much more frequently than reviews of companies that don’t participate, indicating that employees recognize and value companies’ efforts to incorporate these policies.
One in four American adults has a disability. Increased remote work opportunities have increased opportunities for adults with disabilities to enter the American workforce; their share of the workforce has increased from 20% to 37% over the past five years. Still, workforce participation rates for people with disabilities are roughly half that of people without disabilities.
The Accenture report offers a five-part framework for companies to improve their disability employment policies:
Companies should strive to remove barriers and provide equal access to employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Organizational leaders should take steps to raise awareness about disabilities and create an atmosphere of empathy, respect, and inclusion. Companies should foster an environment where individuals feel comfortable disclosing disabilities and expressing their opinions. Organizations should implement and integrate various disability-inclusive policies and procedures. And employers should measure and evaluate progress to demonstrate their commitment to disability inclusion in the workplace.
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