Mathematica is proud to announce that it has been named a “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion” by the 2020 Disability Equality Index® (DEI). The DEI is a joint initiative between the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and Disability:IN. This comprehensive benchmarking index is designed to help businesses advance accessibility for and inclusion of people with disabilities and lessen their unemployment or underemployment rates.
Mathematica is committed to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where people with disabilities and disabling conditions are welcomed and can thrive. “I’m proud to work for a company that values the contributions of people with disabilities and encourages creativity and flexibility in meeting the needs of all its team members,” said Purvi Sevak, a Mathematica senior researcher who facilitates the company’s Disability Employee Resource Group. “The depth of experience and perspectives of my Mathematica colleagues are what makes our company and the work that we do stronger. I look forward to continuing our efforts to improve inclusion and accessibility within our company, our field, and beyond.”
The DEI measures a range of policies and practices that reflect how inclusive an organization is. Mathematica received top marks on each, with an accessible workplace, strong employment practices, a supportive culture and strong leadership, a disability-related employee resource group, and a diversity council to help guide internal and external company initiatives.
Recognition as a best place to work for disability inclusion is an important acknowledgement of Mathematica’s deep commitment to being a welcoming and equitable workplace for people of all backgrounds. As a longtime leader in disability policy research through its Center for Studying Disability Policy, Mathematica is driven to improve the lives of people with disabilities through effective policies and programs, both within and outside the organization.
Although Mathematica has made progress on including people with disabilities, more work is still to be done. Moving forward, Mathematica will continue to discover and implement best practices for recruiting and partnering with groups focused on the employment of people with disabilities to ensure that its staff is more representative of the tens of millions of people across the United States who live with a disability.
As two Mathematica employees, Jessica Coldren and David Mann, share in a recent blog post, the experiences of people with disabilities vary considerably, and so do their needs. Employers who welcome people with disabilities can better serve all their employees and clients, and ultimately improve public well-being. Mathematica is honored to learn from and be an example to other organizations committed to including people with disabilities. To learn more about how to advance disability inclusion in the workplace, check out resources supported by the U.S. Department of Labor at the Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion and the Job Accommodation Network.
