2026 Disability Index Report Results and Insights

New Disability:IN Report Shows Disability Inclusion has Outgrown the Programmatic Era

2026 Disability Index reveals that the next phase of progress accelerated by governance, transparency, procurement, technology and local activation

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 27th, 2026 – Disability:IN, the leading nonprofit resource for business disability inclusion worldwide, today released the 2026 Disability Index Report, signaling a new era for disability inclusion in business: defined by programs in place and whether disability inclusion is embedded into the systems that shape how businesses perform.

The Disability Index, a confidential global benchmarking tool, helps companies: 1) assess their disability inclusion efforts in relation to their peers, 2) identify gaps, and 3) use data to advance progress across business functions. Participation in the benchmark is free and open to eligible organizations* around the globe, regardless of location or industry.

This year marks a significant evolution of the Index, driven by input from hundreds of companies and professionals around the world. The 2026 benchmark introduces an expanded global participation model, a streamlined question set, and a new maturity-based scoring framework designed to enhance the benchmark’s ability to help organizations integrate disability inclusion into their core business strategies and operations.

In 2026, the Index measures progress across nine categories: Accessibility, Accommodations & Adjustments, Benefits, Leadership, Recruitment, Supplier Inclusion, Career Development, Culture – and newly introduced this year -- Marketing and Communications

The benchmark uses 76 yes/no questions, with each question worth one point, and organizes results into six proficiency tiers that help companies understand their current level of maturity and how and where they can advance next. Companies achieving scores in the most advanced proficiency levels are recognized as “World’s Top Disability Inclusive Businesses” for 2026.

The result of this evolution is a significantly expanded and more globally representative dataset. The 2026 Disability Index draws on submissions from 45 countries, marking a nearly six-fold increase in global reach from the prior year. A total of 421 unique organizations contributed 627 submissions through enterprise-level and country-level participation, creating a broader and more operationally robust view of disability inclusion practices around the world.

“Disability inclusion is entering a new era in business,” said Jill Houghton, President and CEO of Disability:IN. “Many companies have built strong foundations, but the future of this work will require that accessibility and disability inclusion to be part of the rigor driving business decisions, especially around AI, technology, governance, workforce strategy and regional execution. The future of this work hinges on what companies build today in preparing for tomorrow, and whether disability inclusion is embedded into the systems that will define business tomorrow.”

Key Findings from the 2026 Disability Index

The findings reveal that many participating companies have made meaningful progress on foundational practices, including benefits, accommodations, wage protections, and accessible workplace supports. At the same time, the report identifies persistent gaps in governance, disclosure, board representation, and accessible procurement.  

The most broadly adopted practices among 2026 Disability Index participants were:

• Mental health and well-being benefits: 99% report mental health and well-being benefits beyond what is required by law or provided by government.

• Flexible or remote work accommodations: 98% report flexible or remote work accommodations for employees with disabilities.

• Long- and Short-term disability income protection: 97% report that employees have access to coverage against loss of income due to long-term disability with 95% reporting employee access to coverage for short-term disability.  

Among the least adopted practices were:

• Board disability representation: 6% report that the board of directors includes someone who openly identifies as having a disability.

• Governance and board demographic disclosure: 25% include disability in corporate governance or board demographic disclosures, such as proxy voting statements, ESG reports, annual reports, or 10-K filings.

• Disability in governance charters: 28% include disability in corporate governance charters, such as board recruiting guidelines, corporate governance frameworks, partnership terms, or nominating committee charters.

• Optouts for screening during the hiring process: 43% allow qualified candidates with disabilities to decline personality or technical screening tests as part of the employment process.

These findings point to a central business challenge: companies are making progress on employee-facing practices, but the next frontier will be defined by the integration of disability inclusion in governance, reporting, accountability, and the systems that support enterprise decision-making. These factors will become increasingly more important as companies navigate rapid technological innovation, shifting workforce expectations, and regulatory complexity.

“Companies have made strides in advancing the practices closest to the employee experience,” said Ted Kennedy Jr., Co-Chair of the Disability Index. “The next frontier is accountability: whether disability inclusion is visible in governance, measured in reporting, reinforced through procurement, and owned at the highest levels of the business.”

Shaping the Future of Work

“Artificial intelligence and digital transformation are fundamentally reshaping every aspect of work,” concluded, Houghton.  “To meet the needs of an evolving landscape and to address the factors rapidly reshaping the ways companies make progress on disability inclusion, Disability:IN will continue to evolve the Disability Index to help companies measure what matters most to their key stakeholders.”  

Beginning with the 2027 benchmark, Disability:IN plans to introduce new questions across priority areas including artificial intelligence, product design, neuroinclusion, and compensation practices.

To download the full report, visit DisabilityIN.org.  

About Disability:IN

Disability:IN is the leading nonprofit resource for business disability inclusion worldwide. Together with the world’s leading companies, Disability:IN drives progress through initiatives, tools, and expertise that deliver long-term business impact.

About the Disability Index

The Disability Index® is the leading independent, third-party resource for the annual, confidential benchmarking of disability inclusion policies and programs in business. Trusted by over 70% of the Fortune 100 and nearly half of the Fortune 500, the tool helps companies determine opportunities for growth through data-driven actions and outcomes that deliver long-term business impact.  

*Participation is open to all non-governmental businesses or organizations with independent governance, and more than 500 employees are eligible to participate. The Disability Index is open to companies operating in all countries worldwide.  

Learn more about the Index here.