Beyond Compliance: The Business Case for Disability Inclusion

By Samantha Stimpson (Founder & CEO: SLS 360)

Image Credit: CanWin

Including disabled people at work isn’t just something nice to do – it’s actually really smart for business.

Companies that take disability inclusion seriously are outperforming their peers. They find great talent, generate better ideas, and reach more customers because they’re engaging a huge group of people that most businesses still overlook.

Many organisations claim to care about disability inclusion, but don’t track it – or even know if they’re making progress. If you want to make a real difference, you need to measure it.

Katy Talikowska, CEO of Valuable 500, recently shared with CEO Magazine Global five KPIs companies should be tracking to end disability exclusion:

• Workforce Representation: What percentage of your workforce identifies as disabled? This foundational metric helps organisations understand their current state and set meaningful targets for improvement.

• Goals: What specific goals has your company defined for disability inclusion, and how are business leaders held accountable for delivering them?

• Training: Does your organisation provide disability inclusion training for managers and employees?

• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs): Do you have a disability-specific ERG with executive sponsorship?

• Digital Accessibility: Have your digital platforms and content been reviewed for accessibility?

These KPIs create a comprehensive reporting ecosystem that drives strategic decision-making and long-term transformation. True inclusion looks like this.

Companies with robust disability inclusion practices report increased employee engagement, higher retention, lower turnover costs, and stronger brand value. People want to work with – and for – organisations that walk the walk.

With 1.3 billion disabled people worldwide, organisations that fail to measure and improve their disability inclusion efforts are missing out on a major market and talent pool. And no – this isn’t just about sticks and wheelchairs.

The message is clear: disability inclusion starts at the top. When leadership commits to measurable progress, the whole organisation follows creating workplaces where everyone can contribute, grow, and thrive.

Help is at hand!

SLS 360 supports organisations and individuals to be bold and brave in your efforts to affect positive change. For more information on SLS 360 and the I.D.E.A.L Network, visit www.sls360.org. You can also subscribe to receive our fortnightly audio cast, monthly newsletter and be the first to hear about special offers and events in the world of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

📩 Reach out to us at info@sls360.org to start the conversation.