Brown and Caldwell has been recognized as a “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion” by earning a top score on the 2021 Disability Equality Index® (DEI).
The DEI measures a wide range of criteria across six categories, from our culture and leadership, to enterprise-wide accessibility and employment practices, to diversity among suppliers. In 2021, following the global pandemic, the DEI was modernized to add 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.
BC’s DEI score reflects a company-wide commitment to celebrating the individuality and unique strengths of our employee owners—and a firm belief that a culture of inclusion drives innovation. As a company focused on helping clients succeed by pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, BC understands that the best ideas grow within a culture of balance and belonging where space is created for new ideas and enhanced connections with our colleagues and clients.
“Disability equality is not about numbers—it is about people. The DEI supports our commitment to a culture of balance and belonging by providing actionable insights that help shape our roadmap for advancing disability inclusion and equity. Our work needs to be targeted and specific for those with differing abilities and the DEI helps us do just that.”
Andrea Hall, BC Senior Director of Diversity & Inclusion
By taking the DEI, companies demonstrate stakeholder commitment to disability inclusion and equality. The DEI takes about 40 hours to complete annually online. It is modeled off the Corporate Equality Index that highlights LGBTQ-inclusive workplace policies.
In 2021, BC partnered with Disability:IN to advocate for the inclusion of people with disabilities within the business community and our workplace. As part of this partnership, BC is committing to leveraging the DEI, which serves as a benchmarking tool that helps us set measurable actions to achieve disability inclusion and equality. BC is using the DEI to objectively evaluate efforts related to disability inclusion and stay informed of recommendations that can help enhance inclusion initiatives.
“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
This recognition is a testament to the culture of inclusion BC is building. While there is work to do, the high DEI score reflects a commitment to being a part of positive change towards more inclusive workplaces.
