Company commitment to culture of inclusion recognized with Best Place to Work for Disability Equality designation in benchmark report

PROVIDENCE, RI (13 de julho, 2021) – Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) has been designated a Best Place to Work for Disability Equality having received a score of 90 percent on the 2021 Disability Equality Index^® (DEI). Administered by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and Disability:IN^®, the DEI is a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to disability workplace equality.

“The Disability Equality Index helps companies like Blue Cross make a positive impact on the unemployment and underemployment of people with disabilities by holding us accountable for measurable steps toward inclusion," said Jenny Bautista-Ravreby, BCBSRI diversity, equity and inclusion manager. “We are honored to be considered a Best Place to Work for Disability Equality, and will continue our efforts to promote diversity, inclusion and equity throughout the workplace and our community."

The award underscores BCBSRI’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, as evidenced by its robust programming and policies. BCBSRI received top marks in part for its:

• Employee business resource group (EBRG), Disability Inclusion Network, which promotes inclusion and accessibility for people with disabilities and impairments.
• Community support for people living with disabilities, including grants and in-kind support to Special Olympics Rhode Island, Best Buddies Rhode Island and Meeting Street.
• Inclusive benefits, such as coverage for hearing aids and vision care, paid caregiver leave and employee assistance programs.
• Commitment to web accessibility for BCBSRI.com and an emergency preparedness policy that specifically addresses assistance for people with disabilities.

Designed as a comprehensive assessment tool, the 2021 DEI evaluated disability-related policies and practices in the areas of culture and leadership, enterprise-wide access, employment practices, community engagement and supplier diversity. Additionally, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 DEI was modernized to add new non-weighted questions about innovative technology to advance digital and remote accessibility; mental wellness benefits; services for deaf and hard-of-hearing employees, and flexible work options.

More information on the 2021 Disability Equality Index and the full list of top scoring companies can be found at https://disabilityin.org/what-we-do/disability-equality-index/. For more information about BCBSRI’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, visit www.bcbsri.com/about/diversity.