A new study of 120 global brands shows how over 90 per cent of businesses are recognising the importance of disabled employees and customers.

The findings

The report shows that:

• More than 90 per cent of respondents state that ‘disability inclusion is the right thing to do’ at a global level.
• More than 80 per cent state that it allows them to access a wider pool of talent, drives employee motivation, has an impact on sales and opportunities and supports business objectives.

Yet, whilst more than 80 per cent of respondents say that their organisation had made one or more commitment to disability inclusion at a central level, only about 20 per cent of respondents had a global strategy for disability inclusion in place and resourced.

The study identifies several common barriers to creating a global strategy for disability inclusion. These include:

• Cultural differences in the way disability is understood.

• Levels of engagement with disability and accessibility in some countries.
• Varying legal requirements between countries.
• Resources and systematic data collection.
• Gaining the commitment of local champions and managers.

For organisations which have worked to overcome these challenges the benefits are clear, with over 80 per cent reporting improvements for disabled colleagues and customers on a global scale. Over 90 per cent reported senior level buy-in at an early stage to be key in gaining engagement, traction, and stronger accountability at a local level.