Norton Healthcare earned a 90 score on the 2022 Disability Equality Index (DEI) in its first time participating. Companies earning 80 and above, on a top score of 100, are recognized as “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion.”

Story by: Kate Eller on July 20, 2022

Norton Healthcare earned a 90 score on the 2022 Disability Equality Index (DEI) in its first time participating. Companies earning 80 and above, on a top score of 100, are recognized as “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion.”

DEI is a comprehensive benchmarking tool that helps companies build a road map of measurable, tangible actions that they can take to achieve disability inclusion and equality. The DEI was launched in 2015 by Disability:IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), and is acknowledged today as the most robust disability inclusion assessment tool in business. Now in its eighth year, the DEI exists to help businesses make a positive impact on the unemployment and underemployment of people with disabilities.

“One of the important drivers for Norton Healthcare has been to continually live out our people-focused values and our mission of service to all,” said Russell F. Cox, president and CEO, Norton Healthcare. “We took the DEI to improve upon our benchmarking tools for evaluating disability inclusion as part of our broader equity, inclusion and belonging efforts.

“This designation is a very powerful statement to our organization’s commitment to a caring and inclusive culture. We are proud of the confirmation that our people-centric approach really is working,” Cox said.

The 2022 DEI measured culture and leadership; enterprisewide access; employment practices (benefits, recruitment, employment, education, retention and advancement, and accommodations); community engagement; and supplier diversity.

Norton Healthcare has seven employee resource groups, including one called ABLED (Awareness Benefiting Leadership and Employees About Disabilities), for people impacted by disability.

“ABLED exists to enlighten and empower Norton Healthcare employees about caring for and working with people with disabilities,” said Robert B. Azar, senior vice president and chief legal officer, Norton Healthcare, and ABLED’s executive sponsor. “We are proud of the work we are doing and our commitment to serving as an educational resource with a focus on improving access, inclusion and respect.”

In 2022, out of 415 participants, 240 companies received a score of 100, 68 companies received a score of 90, and 27 companies received a score of 80.

“Disability inclusion is a rapidly expanding aspect of corporate culture, and it’s gratifying to partner with 415 companies on the 2022 Disability Equality Index,” said Jill Houghton, president and CEO, Disability:IN. “These top-scoring companies not only excel in disability inclusion, many are also adopting emerging trends and pioneering

measures that can move the disability agenda from accommodation to inclusion and ultimately, genuine belonging.”

“There is no single best way to practice disability inclusion; however, the companies taking the DEI share the desire to create a workplace that fosters the concept of bringing your whole self to the office,” said Maria Town, president and CEO, AAPD. “We look forward to working with all of the participants to help identify meaningful ways to build upon their current practices as we continue on the disability inclusion journey together.”