Leidos is a top employer for workers with disabilities
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Leidos was again recognized as one of the best places to work for people with disabilities.
For the second year in a row, the company earned the maximum score of 100 on the Disability Equality Index (DEI), one of the top measurements of disability inclusion in the workforce.
Why you should know: The pandemic caused a spike in the number of disabled workers in the U.S., many of whom are now struggling to find employment.
The data says: Roughly 61 million adults in the U.S. live with a disability according to the CDC, or roughly 1 in 4.
- “Globally, people with disabilities represent over one billion people,” according to the list’s publishers. “Disability is a natural part of the human experience, and it crosses lines of age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status and religion.”
Mobility, hearing and vision impairments are among the most common, but these numbers also reflect hidden cognitive impairments like depression.
Background: In 2020, Leidos launched an employee resource group called Allies and Action for Accessibilities and Abilities (A4) to promote disability inclusion.
- “Our mission is to enable everyone to participate fully, so one of our goals is to clear obstacles for those who have a disability,” says A4 Chair Erin Carey. “At a minimum, we want to offer different perspectives and broaden how people view those of us with disabilities. We strive to be a voice for this community, and if we can help start a conversation, I consider that a win.”
Carey said A4, which has grown to roughly 250 members, has received incredible support from the top levels of Leidos, especially since the company formally adopted inclusion as a core value.
Notable: Leidos was also recognized last month as a 2022 Top 50 Employer by readers of Careers & The DisABLED Magazine, climbing to No. 26 on the list.
Last year, the company was recognized as a Leading Disability Employer by the National Organization on Disability.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a civil rights law that bans discrimination based on disabilities, was signed into law 32 years ago this month.
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