Spaulding Rehabilitation Recognized Again as a Top Scoring Company in the 2021 Disability Equality Index®
Boston, MA (July 13, 2021) – Disability: IN and American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) this week released the 2021 Disability Equality Index (DEI) – the seventh year measured by the Index. Among the record 247 corporations was the Boston based Spaulding Rehabilitation which earned the highest score possible of 100 on the index for the third straight year. Included in this year’s Index were 319 corporations, including 67 Fortune 100, 164 Fortune 500, and 180 Fortune 1000 utilized the DEI to benchmark their disability inclusion efforts.
“This past year demonstrated the crucial importance of diversity and inclusion efforts in both social responsibility as well as access to care in all areas, including digital spaces. All of us at Spaulding are proud that we are once again being recognized for our work to ensure that our environment is inclusive on all fronts and to all communities. This honor demonstrates our commitment to these vital principles in all aspects of our work,” said Dr. Ross Zafonte, Interim President, Spaulding Rehabilitation.
The DEI was created by the DEI Advisory Committee, a diverse group of business leaders, policy experts and disability advocates. The DEI, now in its sixth year, exists to help business impact the unemployment/underemployment of people with disabilities. The 2021 DEI measured: Culture & Leadership; Enterprise-Wide Access; Employment Practices (Benefits, Recruitment, Employment, Education, Retention & Advancement, Accommodations); Community Engagement; and Supplier Diversity and Non-U.S. Operations (Non-Weighted). Also this year, following the global pandemic, the DEI added new non-weighted questions about innovative technology to advance digital and remote accessibility; mental wellness benefits; services for Deaf and hard of hearing employees, and flexible work options.
"We are so pleased to partner with 319 companies this year on the Disability Equality Index. Part of corporate commitment to disability inclusion is recognizing your stance and using it as an 'aha moment' to drive the business investments needed to scale change. Inclusion and accessibility cuts across the enterprise, from cultural representation in the workforce, to technology acceleration, to incorporating supply chain diversity. These are tangible opportunities that leading companies can leverage to create sustainable impact for their business and brand."-Jill Houghton, President & Chief Executive Officer, Disability:IN
“The Disability Equality Index shines a spotlight on companies that believe they have a stake in creating a more equitable society for people with disabilities. It is a conduit for our work championing disability rights for the 60 million Americans with disabilities and knocking down barriers to employment, technology and healthcare, and we're thrilled to see the progress being made today.”– Maria Town, President and CEO of AAPD
The recognition of being a “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion” is reserved for those companies that have scored 80 or above on the DEI. The full company list can be accessed here: https://disabilityin.org/what-we-do/disability-equality-index/2021companies/ Read the full news release from the USBLN.
About Spaulding Rehabilitation
A member of the Mass General Brigham Health System, Spaulding Rehabilitation includes Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, with a main campus in Charlestown the 2nd ranked rehabilitation hospital in the country by U.S. News & World Report, along with Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Cape Cod, Spaulding Hospital Cambridge, Spaulding Nursing and Therapy Center Brighton, and over 25 outpatient sites throughout Eastern Massachusetts. An acclaimed teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School and home to the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding is recognized as the top residency program in the U.S. in the 2020/2021 Doximity Residency Navigator. Spaulding also was recognized by the 2021 Disability Equality Index as a “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion.” For more information, visit www.spauldingrehab.org.