For the third consecutive year, SAS has received a top score of 100 in the Disability Equality Index®. The index is considered the world’s most comprehensive benchmarking tool for Fortune 1000 scope companies to measure disability workplace inclusion inside their organization and to assess performance across industry sectors. SAS earned a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion distinction for its disability inclusion initiatives that are featured in the survey, including culture, leadership and employment practices.
The Disability Equality Index, a joint initiative of Disability:IN and The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), is acknowledged as the most robust disability inclusion assessment tool in business. This year’s survey included questions about:
- Culture and leadership.
- Enterprise-wide access.
- Employment practices (including benefits, recruitment, employment, education, retention and advancement and accommodations).
- Community engagement.
- Supplier diversity.
- Responsible procurement.
“SAS is committed to providing all employees an equitable work environment that allows them to achieve their full potential, which in turn helps our company become stronger and more innovative,” said Danielle Pavliv, SAS Chief Diversity Officer. “We believe that there is always more work to be done to enhance inclusivity and accessibility. Over the last few years, we have been even more intentional in our global disability inclusion and digital accessibility efforts, which resulted in an increase in disability self-identification in the US by over 250% since 2021.”
SAS believes that all employees have a responsibility to create environments that enable everyone to do their jobs without barriers. Through strengthening cross-functional partnerships, SAS has worked diligently to enhance its focus on accessibility and disability inclusion.
In 2024, 542 corporations, including 71 Fortune 100 and 220 Fortune 500 companies, utilized the Disability Equality Index to benchmark their disability inclusion efforts.
“On the 10th anniversary of the Disability Equality Index, we’re extremely proud of the 542 national and international companies that are taking a proactive role in leading progress towards disability inclusion, setting a benchmark for others to follow,” Jill Houghton, President and CEO of Disability:IN. “Their dedication to fostering inclusive workplaces not only attracts top talent but also drives innovation and creates sustainable performance in today’s global market. Together, we are creating a future where everyone can contribute and thrive.”
SAS CEO Jim Goodnight also signed the Disability:IN CEO Letter on Disability Inclusion, highlighting a commitment to ensure people with disabilities are represented at all levels of a company and encouraging other CEOs to join the pledge.
SAS continues to be recognized as a top place to work for job starters, parents and women. The data and AI leader has also been awarded for its innovative technology. Recently, SAS was recognized in Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards for an AI project that protects endangered sea turtles. SAS is also a top scorer on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index.
