Prime earns top score of 100 on Disability Equality Index

Prime recently earned a score of 100 on the Disability Equality Index® (DEI), the world’s most comprehensive benchmarking tool measuring workplace inclusion. By earning a top score, Prime is recognized as a “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion.” A company’s inclusion on the DEI demonstrates its commitment to disability inclusion and equality, as well as broader social issues.

In its second year of participation in DEI, Prime is especially proud to announce its top score of 100, which is an improvement from last year’s score of 90, indicating its progress year-over-year. A 100 score means Prime has implemented many of the forward-thinking disability inclusion practices featured in the DEI.

“Using the Disability Equality Index benchmarking tool helps us pave a path forward toward concrete actions that yield measurable outcomes in our pursuit of disability inclusion and equity,” said Zabrina Watkins, director, diversity, equity and inclusion. “While we are proud of our top score, we remain committed to continuous improvement, recognizing that there is always room for meaningful growth.”

Criteria met for DEI inclusion

Building on Prime’s 2022 accomplishments, chief among the initiatives that earned Prime a score of 100 are:

• Including Prime’s accessibility statement on its public facing website.
• Publishing its second annual transparency report, which includes disability data based on self-identification.
• Creation of a Mental Health Alliance employee resource group.
• Updates to core behaviors expected from leaders and senior executives in relation to varying/differing employee ability levels.

“These top-scoring companies understand deeply that people with disabilities represent a tremendous source of talent and innovation for their workforce and market share for their brands, and they are trailblazers in our journey towards full disability inclusion in business,” said Maria Town, President and CEO of AAPD.

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 utilized the DEI to benchmark their disability inclusion efforts. Of the 485 participants, 294 companies received a score of 100; 66 companies received a score of 90 and 45 companies received a score of 80. Businesses that score 80 or higher are recognized as a “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion.”

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.