RSM Scores 100 on Disability Equality Index’s 2023 “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion”

CHICAGO – (July 11, 2023) – RSM US LLP (“RSM”) – the nation’s leading provider of assurance, tax and consulting services focused on the middle market – was recently named to the Disability Equality Index® (DEI), the world’s most comprehensive benchmarking tool for the Fortune 1000 and American law firms to measure disability workplace inclusion against competitors.

The DEI was launched in 2015 by Disability:IN and The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and is recognized today as the most robust disability inclusion assessment tool in business. Top-scoring businesses – those scoring 80 or higher – are viewed as “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion”. RSM Scored 100 this year for the second consecutive year.

The DEI was created by the DEI Advisory Committee, a diverse group of business leaders, policy experts and disability advocates. Now in its ninth year, the DEI exists to help businesses make a positive impact on the unemployment/underemployment of people with disabilities.

In 2023, 485 corporations, including Fortune 100, Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies, used the DEI to benchmark their disability inclusion efforts. The 2023 DEI measured culture and leadership, enterprise-wide access, employment practices (benefits, recruitment, employment, education, retention and advancement, and accommodations), community engagement, supplier diversity, and non-U.S. operations. In 2023, the DEI included a new non-weighted community question that asked whether organizations included an accessibility statement on their public-facing websites.

RSM is committed to accessibility as part of its focus on culture, diversity and inclusion (CDI), and the firm’s Abilities employee network group (ENG) champions many related efforts. The firm has also taken steps recently to continue to enhance diversity and inclusion for all, including adding a new director of vendor relationships, enhancing wellness benefits, enhancing paid caregiver leave, participating in philanthropic efforts supporting an external disability-related event and continuing to emphasize equality in all talent acquisition activities.

Globally, people with disabilities represent more than one billion people. Disability is a natural part of the human experience, crossing lines of age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status and religion.

In 2023, out of 485 participants, 294 companies received scores of 100; 66 received scores of 90 and 45 received scores of 80, for a total of 405 top scorers.

“Businesses have the power to drive the global advancement of disability inclusion, and we’re thrilled to see more companies than ever leverage the Disability Equality Index to measure their progress,” said Jill Houghton, president and CEO of Disability:IN. “We recognize top-scoring companies, such as RSM, as a ‘Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion’ for their passion and efforts to lead the way for people with disabilities in the workplace, and supply chain.”

“At RSM, we have an unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion – for all our people,” said Curtis Fenton, strategy execution director and Abilities employee network group national leader with RSM US LLP. “We strive to foster a workplace culture where everyone feels a sense of belonging, regardless of their abilities or other defining factors. This recognition validates our efforts around inclusion and serves as a benchmark against which we’ll continue to strive.”

To learn more about inclusion at RSM, visit the firm’s website.

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 complimentary 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