The Widespread Benefits of Disability Inclusion

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that disabilities affect more than one in four people in the United States, representing more than 70 million people across the nation.¹ An estimated 1.3 billion people—16% of the global population—experience a significant disability.² Some of these disabilities are invisible; an estimated 15-20 of the U.S. population is neurodivergent, and nearly one in five struggle with mental health.^3,4

Across demographics, people with disabilities do not work as much, do not make as much, and do not accumulate as much wealth as their colleagues without disabilities.⁵ Right now, only 22.5% of individuals with disabilities are employed in the U.S.,⁶ a notable increase following the COVID-19 pandemic, which may be attributed to tighter labor market conditions and increased workplace flexibility options, including telework.⁷

According to the 2024 Disability Equality Index Report, the workforce is experiencing an uptick in talent with disabilities. While only an aggregate 4% of workers in the U.S. identify as having a disability, 5% of new hires identify as such.⁸ In addition, companies that lead on disability employment and inclusion have seen 1.6 times more revenue, 2.6 times more net income, and twice the profits over a five-year span than their industry peers.⁹ Research also shows that companies with well-run disability community outreach programs, can lower staff turnover, by up to 30% in some cases.¹⁰

We heard from one BCCCC member company at the forefront of making disability inclusion a priority for both its employees and its consumers: U.S. Bank.

U.S. Bank: Helping the Colleague, Customer, and Community

U.S. Bank serves millions of clients locally, nationally, and globally through a diverse range of businesses, including consumer banking, business banking, commercial banking, institutional banking, payments, and wealth management. The company has been acknowledged for its approach to digital innovation, community partnerships, and customer service. U.S. Bank believes that focusing on inclusivity allows team members to bring their whole selves to work.

U.S. Bank’s commitment to disability inclusion begins in the recruiting process. Applicants are offered access to specialists who can make appropriate accommodations for the applicant during the hiring process. Throughout the onboarding process and beyond, the company makes sure that employees have an equal opportunity to easily and independently access assistive technology, including various adaptive computer accessories, suppliers for interpreting American Sign Language, as well as live, human-generated captioning services. The U.S. Bank accessibility team also hosts company-wide trainings, leads assistive technology demonstrations, and consults on everything the company creates to ensure the organization can offer appropriate accommodations.

Additionally, the company has a support services team that is devoted to helping those who may face barriers to employment and financial stability. The team is made up of 300 U.S. Bank employees with disabilities who support the company’s marketing and fulfillment efforts. The company also has a disability Business Resource Group (BRG) that organizes programming throughout the year, which has been influential in promoting equity and inclusion for individuals with disabilities. Members of the group played a key role in advocating for the creation of a disability and accessibility consultant position, a role that ensures U.S. Bank has the necessary infrastructure to support access and inclusion for employees experiencing disability-related barriers in the workplace.

“A lot of the ways people think about disabilities are rooted in oppression. We’re trying to shift the narrative to think of disability as part of the human experience,” said Emily Norenberg, Human Resource Manager, U.S. Bank Accessibility and Accommodations Team. “When we think about the sense of belonging that we hope to foster, how can we do that for our employees with disabilities? Because at the end of the day, one thing we all want is for people to feel empowered to do the work they were hired to do,” she continued.

The commitment to accommodating those with disabilities also extends to the U.S. Bank customers. Through the U.S. Bank Smart Assistant, users can access their accounts through voice, tap, and text. It is also currently available in two languages, English and Spanish. Customers with vision loss have the option to request large-print statements and enhanced mobile and online systems. Because an individual with a cognitive disability might require additional support, U.S. Bank offers one-on-one opportunities where a customer can work with a bank employee either online or in-person to have their bank statement printed and/or read aloud to them.

The company is also advancing diversity inclusion outside of the banking world. Recently, a team of U.S. Bank colleagues without disabilities played in the inaugural Play for Inclusion 3v3 Wheelchair Basketball Charitable Tournament in Milwaukee. The team took part in the tournament as a way to gain new perspectives about people with disabilities and to also enjoy a little healthy competition. The event brought together teams from across the Greater Milwaukee area for accessibility-inclusive play to benefit local disability programs in the area. Throughout the tournament, the employees could experience the game of basketball from the perspective of athletes with physical disabilities.

“I am proud of the progress we’ve made towards enhancing disability accessibility and inclusion for our team members and stakeholders,” said Mark Runkel, senior executive vice president and chief transformation officer at U.S. Bank, and executive sponsor of the bank’s disability employee resource group. “When we commit to accepting and accommodating the diverse needs of individuals with disabilities, we build a culture of equal opportunity and innovation, removing barriers and empowering every person to participate in creating stronger, more inclusive communities.”