World Wide Technology Earns a Perfect Score on 2022 Disability Equality Index
ST. LOUIS (July 20, 2022) – World Wide Technology (WWT), a $14.5 billion global technology solution provider, today announced that its commitment to diversity and inclusion has been recognized with the top score in the 2022 Disability Equality Index® (DEI). The DEI is the world's most comprehensive benchmarking tool for the Fortune 1000 and Am Law 2001 to measure disability workplace inclusion against competitors, launched by Disability:IN and The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD).
"In reflecting on WWT's diversity and inclusion efforts in 2021, it is clear that our programs were vital to the health and prosperity of our employees, company, and partner organizations around the world. Our positive values and culture of inclusivity are strategic tools that helped us and our workforce be more innovative and resilient," said Bob Ferrell, Executive Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, WWT. "WWT ABLE, our Disabilities Enabled Employee Resource Group, continues to foster a culture of awareness and inclusion in the workforce, and inspires accessible innovation for ALL."
"I am thrilled that WWT is committed to embracing disability inclusion. Over the past year, our employee resource group continued to focus on a culture of awareness and inclusion for our teammates, their families, and the communities where we live and work," said Tom Strunk, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, WWT. "This means so much. I'm proud of the progress we made in 2021. I'm also honored we have been recognized as a top scorer and look forward to continuing our efforts to make WWT a great place to work for ALL."
WWT's recent disability inclusion efforts are the founding of the employee resource group WWT ABLE, which stands for We work together to help all achieve beyond labels & expectations. WWT ABLE used its inaugural year to focus on the workforce with education and engagement opportunities. The ERG also hosted both Haben Girma, a disability rights advocate and the first deaf and blind graduate of Harvard Law School, and Bethany Hamilton, a professional surfer and writer, for a WWT Speaker Series.
"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, 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 of 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."
The DEI is recognized today as the most robust disability inclusion assessment tool in business and takes about 40 hours to complete online each year. It is modeled off the Corporate Equality Index that highlights LGBTQ+-inclusive workplace policies. This year's assessment measured culture & leadership; enterprise-wide access; employment practices (benefits, recruitment, employment, education, retention & advancement, accommodations); community engagement; supplier diversity; non-U.S. operations (non-weighted), along with including new non-weighted leadership questions about including disability in corporate board diversity criteria.
In 2022, WWT joined 415 corporations, including 69 Fortune 100, 188 Fortune 500, and 227 Fortune 1000 who utilized the DEI to benchmark their disability inclusion efforts. 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. There was a total of 335 top scorers.
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About World Wide Technology
World Wide Technology (WWT), a global technology solutions provider with $14.5 billion in annual revenue, combines the power of strategy, execution and partnership to accelerate transformational outcomes for large public and private organizations around the world. Through its Advanced Technology Center, a collaborative ecosystem of the world's most advanced hardware and software solutions, WWT helps customers and partners conceptualize, test and validate innovative technology solutions for the best business outcomes and then deploys them at scale through its 4 million square feet of global warehousing, distribution and integration space. With over 8,000 employees and more than 55 locations around the world, WWT's culture, built on a set of core values and established leadership philosophies, has been recognized 11 years in a row by Fortune and Great Place to Work® for its unique blend of determination, innovation and leadership for diversity and inclusion. With this culture at its foundation, WWT bridges the gap between business and technology to make a new world happen for its customers, partners and communities.
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About the Disability Equality Index
The Disability Equality Index (DEI) is a comprehensive benchmarking tool that helps companies build a roadmap of measurable, tangible actions that they can take to achieve disability inclusion and equality. Each company receives a score, on a scale of zero (0) to 100, with those earning 80 and above recognized as a "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion." The DEI is a joint initiative of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the nation's largest disability rights organization, and Disability:IN, the global business disability inclusion network, to collectively advance the inclusion of people with disabilities. The organizations are complementary and bring unique strengths that make the project relevant and credible to corporations and the disability community. The tool was developed by the DEI Advisory Committee, a diverse group of business leaders, policy experts, and disability advocates. Learn more at: www.DisabilityEqualityIndex.org.
About the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
AAPD is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, increasing the political and economic power for people with disabilities. As a national cross-disability rights organization AAPD advocates for full civil rights for the 60+ million Americans with disabilities. Learn more at: www.aapd.com.
About Disability:IN®
Disability:IN is a global organization driving disability inclusion and equality in business. More than 400 corporations partner with Disability:IN to create long-term business and social impact through the world's most comprehensive disability inclusion benchmarking and reporting tool, the Disability Equality Index (DEI); best-in-class conferences and programs; expert counsel and engagement; and public policy leadership. Join us at disabilityin.org/AreYouIN #AreYouIN.
Media Contacts:
World Wide Technology
Rebecca Morrison
Rebecca.Morrison@wwt.com
314-682-5061
Disability:IN
Becky Kekula
Becky@DisabilityIN.org
781-424-4203