Why Disability Inclusion Is a Crucial Component of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Work

For millions of Americans, the ability to access disability accommodations when dining or doing business can determine whether they can fully participate in society or whether they instead experience marginalization and a loss of autonomy.

Nearly 1 in 4 adults in the United States is living with some form of disability — vision, hearing, ambulatory, self-care related to bathing, cognitive, or difficulty with independent living tasks such as doing errands alone. Meanwhile, benefits of accommodations required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other disability inclusion efforts are poised to reach a growing number of people, as our society ages and the presence of disability grows as a result of conditions such as long COVID.

Businesses must be ready to embrace people with disabilities who are already a part of their customer base. And we must all be ready to accept that if we are lucky enough to live a long life, disability will become a regular presence in our day-to-day experiences.

Far too often, people with disabilities do not have access to information to find businesses and services that are accessible to them. Open to All is thrilled to partner with Yelp in debuting a suite of new disability-related attributes, and a Disability Inclusion Toolkit to help consumers and business owners create a culture of belonging. These attributes, resources, and guidance for businesses will help create welcoming and safe environments for all customers.

Accessibility improves quality of life for all members of society, including the friends, families, and co-workers of those who live with disability by allowing for their fullest possible participation in everyday life. And finally, business stands to thrive by being more inclusive: Companies identified as Disability Inclusion Leaders by Disability:In, Accenture, and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) yielded 1.6 times more revenue, 2.6 times more net income, and twice as much economic profit.

Businesses that enact and advertise accessibility features create inclusive, welcoming atmospheres for all. And the growing awareness among businesses represents crucial progress toward bringing about a society in which those with diverse abilities are embraced and integrated into everyday life.

But we didn’t arrive here by chance.

The fight for disability rights began long before the 1990 passage of the ADA, landmark legislation that works to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to employment, state and local government services, telecommunications, and public accommodations such as stores and restaurants.

Through activism, including rallies, marches, and public education, the movement demanded equal access and opportunity for those with disabilities. Seeds were sown with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibited discrimination in federally funded programs. In 1988, the National Council on Disability, a federal agency, drafted the initial ADA legislation. After two years of public hearings and revisions, President George H. W. Bush signed it into law in 1990. In 2008, the ADA Amendments Act broadened the definition of disability, making it easier for people with episodic conditions or perceived impairments to gain protection.

The ADA’s impact is undeniable; its passage transformed the accessibility of public spaces, workplaces, and transportation.

What’s good for society, in this instance, presents a compelling business case, as well.

An Accenture report found that companies that excel in disability inclusion drive more revenue, net income and profit. It’s easy to understand why, considering that people with disabilities in the United States command nearly half a trillion dollars in disposable income — not including their family, friends and advocates — and increasingly participate in the workforce.