In The Politics of Autism, I discuss the employment of adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. Many posts have discussed programs to provide them with training and experience.
Companies that lead in disability inclusion drive more revenue, net income and profit, according to a new research report from Accenture (NYSE: ACN) in partnership with Disability:IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD).
Building on the 2018 landmark report on disability inclusion at work in the United States, the follow-up research, titled “The Disability Inclusion Imperative,” explores disability inclusion amid major technological advances, changes in geopolitical dynamics and the effects of a global pandemic across 346 companies in the US. These companies participated in the Disability Equality Index (DEI), a leading global benchmarking tool that scores businesses on their disability inclusion policies and practices.
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The report identifies that, over the last five years, the business case for hiring persons with disabilities has become even stronger. Specifically, companies that have led on key disability inclusion criteria over that time saw 1.6 times more revenue, 2.6 times more net income and 2 times more economic profit than other companies in the DEI. Further, leaders are more likely to outperform industry peers in productivity by 25 percent.
Since 2018, the number of people with disabilities in the workforce has swelled from 29 percent to 37 percent with most progress occurring since February 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic. This increase can be attributed to increased work opportunities at home—making it easier for people with disabilities to participate in the workforce and an increased awareness and understanding of digital accessibility and inclusion in the hiring process. Additionally, newer and emerging technologies are excellent sources to advance disability inclusion, including AI-powered platforms.
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Additional Accenture research has showed that 76 percent of employees with disabilities do not fully disclose their disabilities at work. Further, the 2023 DEI report found that only 4.6 percent of employees self-identify their disability status with employers. When the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) began requiring companies to provide a human capital overview in their filings, voluntary mentions of disability inclusion at work are notable. Organizations can ensure that disability inclusion remains a fundamental aspect of their overall sustainability and responsible business practices by incorporating ESG principles into their accountability frameworks and publicly sharing outcomes.
