Which businesses do the best job when it comes to employing the disabled? One answer to that can be found in The Disability Equality Index (DEI) by the American Association of People with Disabilities.
The index is designed to be a benchmarking tool that helps companies build a roadmap of measurable, tangible actions toward 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 “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion.”
Since its inception in 2015, participation in the DEI has grown six-fold, from 80 companies at the start to 485 in 2023.
Below are the retail companies that scored 100 on the index:
- Albertsons
- Amazon
- Best Buy
- Giant Eagle
- JC Penney
- Kroger
- Lowes
- Meijer
- Starbucks
- Target
- Walgreens
- Walmart
The DEI measures a range of criteria within these six categories:
- Employment Practices (40 points) – Businesses commit to and demonstrate commitment to benefits, recruitment practices, employment practices and accommodation practices that fully incorporate and include individuals with disabilities.
- Culture & Leadership (30 points) – Businesses commit to and demonstrate a sustained, visible cultural commitment to disability inclusion and demonstrate visible leadership commitment to disability inclusion throughout the organization.
- Enterprise-Wide Access (10 points) – Businesses commit to and demonstrate commitment to workplace accessibility.
- Community Engagement (10 points) – Businesses demonstrate public-facing engagement practices that celebrate and support individuals with disabilities.
- Supplier Diversity (10 points) – Businesses commit to and demonstrate supplier diversity practices that fully include and utilize disability owned, veteran/disability owned businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses.
- Non-U.S. Operations (not weighted) – Businesses commit to and demonstrate non-U.S. practices that incorporate and include individuals with disabilities.
Click here for more on the index.
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Four Decades of Excellence: How Wilkerson Transformed a Jeweler's Retirement into Celebration
After 45 years serving the Milwaukee community, Treiber & Straub Jewelers owner Michael Straub faced a significant life transition. At 75, the veteran jeweler made a personal decision many business owners understand: "I think it's time. I want to enjoy my wife with my grandchildren for the next 10, 15 years."
Wilkerson's expertise transformed this major business transition into an extraordinary success. Their comprehensive approach to managing the going-out-of-business sale created unprecedented customer response—with lines forming outside the store and limits on how many shoppers could enter at once due to fire safety regulations.
The results exceeded all expectations. "Wilkerson did a phenomenal job," Straub enthuses. "They were there for you through the whole thing, helped you with promoting it, helping you on day-to-day business. I can't speak enough for how well they did." The partnership didn't just facilitate a business closing; it created a celebratory finale to decades of service while allowing Straub to confidently step into his well-earned retirement.
