Shepherd Center Once Again Recognized as a Disability Equality Index® Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion

DEI Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion

Shepherd Center has been named a “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion” by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and Disability:IN. Shepherd Center earned this recognition by scoring 90 out of a possible 100 on the Disability Equality Index® (DEI), the world’s most comprehensive benchmarking tool for the Fortune 1000 and Am Law 2001 to measure disability workplace inclusion against competitors.

“Shepherd Center was founded based on helping people with disabilities rebuild their lives with hope, independence, and dignity. For many, that includes being part of the workforce by either launching or returning to their careers,” said Sarah Morrison, PT, MBA, MHA, CEO of Shepherd Center. “Being named a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and Disability:IN is confirmation that we’re staying true to our mission by both being an inclusive workplace for those with disabilities and celebrating the range of talents and perspectives of our team.”

 Among other initiatives, Shepherd Center shows our commitment to disability inclusion by:

• Monitoring local and federal legislation and upcoming issues that are expected to have an impact on the disability community.
• Implementing recruitment and hiring practices that are inclusive of people with disabilities.
• Sponsoring an active organization-wide Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Council.
• Working to assess print and digital content for accessibility and correcting any issues that could inhibit accessibility for people with disabilities.

 In 2022, Shepherd Center is one of only a few hospitals to receive a score of 90 or above. There were 415 participants from all industries scored on a scale of zero to 100, with those earning 80 and above recognized as a “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion.”

“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 of Disability:IN. “These top-scoring companies not only excel in disability inclusion, but many are also adopting emerging trends and pioneering measures that can move the disability agenda from accommodation to inclusion and ultimately, genuine belonging."

 A company’s 2022 DEI score is based on its self-reported inclusion practices, policies, and hiring commitment for people with disabilities during the calendar year 2021. The DEI participants invest time and resources to build inclusive programs and policies across six areas, including culture and leadership, enterprise-wide access, employment practices (e.g., benefits, recruitment, employment, education, retention and advancement, and accommodations), community engagement and supplier diversity.

 You can view the entire Disability Equality Index here.