DEI Releases Its List of Best Companies to Work for If You Have a Disability

Finding a job you love is tough. Even tougher: finding a job that is rewarding and accommodates your disability. While all companies are legally required to make reasonable workplace accommodations for people with disabilities as per the Americans With Disabilities Act, being forced to adapt isn’t the same as embracing an inclusive workplace.

To help people with disabilities identify inclusive companies, the US Business Leadership Network (USBLN) and American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) created the Disability Equality Index (DEI). Over the past three years, the DEI has ranked corporations from 0 to 100, with 100 being the most inclusive.

Companies opting in on the survey are ranked based on hiring goals, company leadership, accessibility, benefits, recruitment, accommodations, community engagement and support services.

This year, the DEI surveyed 110 large companies, awarding its top score to 68 companies including CVS Health, Delta Airlines, General Motors, Microsoft, T-Mobile, Starbucks, Sprint, Walmart, Wells Fargo and Verizon.

Other notable companies include Deloitte, Metlife, Royal Carribean Cruises, Southwest Airlines and UPS.

Of the companies scoring above 80 percent, several — such as Aetna and Nielsen — offer remote positions ideal for people living with chronic conditions. (You can find more companies hiring for remote jobs here.)

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 17.5 percent of people with disabilities are unemployed, about four times more than the national unemployment rate.

While 95 percent of companies surveyed said they have recruitment programs in place geared towards hiring disabled people, only 39 percent of companies communicate accommodations available for interviews, and half audit their external websites to make sure they are accessible to applicants with disabilities.

As important as accessibility and accommodations in the workplace are for making sure people with disabilities are included, another big barrier — often overlooked by employers — is health insurance. Many people with disabilities need attendant services and specialized care not often covered under company insurance policies. This makes even the most accessible jobs impractical for those who need certain health services to survive.

You can view DEI’s full list of best place to work here.