National initiative gives BCBSRI top score of 100 on Disability Equality Index®

PROVIDENCE, RI (20 de julho, 2022) – Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) has been designated a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion having received a score of 100 on the 2022 Disability Equality Index®. Administered by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and Disability:IN®, the index is a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to disability workplace equality.

“We’re proud to once again be recognized on a national level as among the best employers for diversity, inclusion and equity. It’s an honor to receive a top score of 100 this year," said Jenny Bautista-Ravreby, BCBSRI diversity, equity and inclusion manager. “Our results reflect the meaningful and measurable steps we have taken toward addressing unemployment and underemployment of people with disabilities. Working closely with disability advocates and our own associates, we’ll continue to find additional innovative ways to be inclusive and empowering to all our employees."

In 2022, Blue Cross was among 240 companies to receive a top score of 100 out of a total of 415 that utilized the index to benchmark their diversity inclusion.

The top rating underscores BCBSRI’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, as evidenced by its robust programming and policies, including its:

• Disability Inclusion Network, an employee business resource group, that promotes inclusion and accessibility for people with disabilities and impairments.
• Project SEARCH program, a national affiliate hosted at BCBSRI that provides internships for high school students with intellectual or developmental disabilities and seeks to help find them employment after graduation at BCBSRI or other employers.
• 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 for BCBSRI members, such as coverage for hearing aids and vision care, paid caregiver leave and employee assistance programs.
• Commitment to web accessibility on BCBSRI.com and an emergency preparedness policy that specifically addresses assistance for people with disabilities.

Designed as a comprehensive assessment tool, the 2022 index measured, among other areas, the following: culture & leadership; enterprise-wide access; employment practices (benefits, recruitment, employment, education, retention & advancement, accommodations); and community engagement. Most of the companies that took the DEI say they practice industry standards. However, the findings show that a subset of companies are also going beyond the standard, which reflects the need to attract new talent and diversify the pipeline of candidates, increase retention and advancement, and reimagine their diversity goals to include people with disabilities.

“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," said Jill Houghton, President and CEO of Disability:IN.

More information on the 2022 Disability Equality Index and the full list of top scoring companies can be found here. For more information about BCBSRI’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, visit www.bcbsri.com/about/diversity.