DuPont, M&T Bank among companies rated 100% on the Disability Equality Index

Diversity Councils, inclusive hiring practices, and having at least one senior executive with a disability are a few of the things taken into consideration for the Disability Equality Index score, a voluntary national benchmarking initiative of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and Disability:IN.

Since participation in the Index, currently in its sixth year, relies on self-reporting, the number of companies it includes is limited, and it doesn’t really say much about the best industries and regions for Disability Equality — but it can tell you which companies you can be confident are serious about it.

Delaware companies that scored 100% include DuPont, and the Buffalo-based M&T Bank (acquirer of Wilmington Trust in 2010), which just invested $9 million to renovate 38 branches in Delaware, as well as other companies with a prominent presence in Delaware, including Capital One, JPMorgan Chase, TD Bank, Proctor & Gamble,  Prudential, Verizon and Walgreens.

“Attracting and retaining diverse employees, including those with disabilities, makes us a stronger organization and helps us better understand and serve the needs of all of our communities. We are honored to be recognized by the AAPD and we remain entirely committed to our focus on diversity, inclusion and belonging,” Janet Coletti, executive VP for human resources at M&T Bank, said in a press release.

Companies scoring a 90% with a presence in Delaware include Amazon, First Data, and UPS.

Here’s how the Disability Equality Index score breaks down:

• Culture & Leadership = 30 points (Culture = 20 points, Leadership = 10 points)
• Enterprise-Wide Access = 10 points
• Employment Practices = 40 points (Benefits = 10 points, Recruitment = 10 points, Employment, Education, Retention, & Advancement = 10 points, Accommodations = 10 points)
• Community Engagement = 10 points
• Supplier Diversity = 10 points

Read the full report here.