The Disability Inclusion Commitments focus on equal treatment, equal opportunity, and equal access.
The Disability Inclusion Commitments provide organizations with practical actions to take and learning opportunities to broaden disability inclusion.
First launched in 2023 with more than 90 law firms across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, the Commitments are now expanding based on early success and powerful momentum.
speakers presented 8 Disability Inclusion webinars during the pilot.
law firms are taking four or more actions towards disability inclusion at their firm.
law firm leaders gathered virtually to exchange insights on creating truly inclusive workplace cultures.
Disability inclusivity is often overlooked or overshadowed in broad organizational diversity efforts. Right now, 21% of individuals in the US workforce identify as having a disability, but only 1.4% of lawyers in law firms do.
Diversity Lab is working with its Disability Inclusion Advisory Group to help bridge this gap. Together, we created the Disability Inclusion Commitments, 10 actions proven to broaden inclusion for people with disabilities.
The Disability Inclusion Actions:
Establish a disability employee resource group.
Conduct an annual survey for lawyers and business professionals to identify as having a disability.
Create opportunities for everyone in the firm to discuss their ideas and perspectives on inclusive actions and language related to disabilities.
Remove physical barriers for employees, clients, and other constituents to perform their jobs.
Remove digital barriers.
Ensure firm and client events don’t exclude colleagues with disabilities.
Infuse the culture with inclusivity for people with disabilities and reward individuals who do the work.
Increase opportunities to hire disabled people.
Start a disability mentorship program.
Add disability inclusion to the board’s and/or management committee’s agenda.
In December 2023, we launched the Commitments with more than 90 leading law firms in the US, UK, and Canada. From 2023 to 2025, 100+ law firms joined the movement by implementing one or more of the actions listed in the Disability Inclusion Commitments.
In partnership with Diversity Lab, firms accessed Knowledge Sharing webinars and other resources to deepen awareness across their organizations and the broader legal community. Topics included digital accessibility, inclusive hiring practices, and launching disability-focused employee resource groups.
Now, we’re expanding and enhancing the Commitments based on everything we learned from the successful pilot. Stay tuned for the opportunity to join the next phase and help build a more inclusive legal profession for people with disabilities.
Many participating firms are now:
Upon signing onto the Commitments, many participating firms pledged to:
Our sincere gratitude goes to the law firms and legal departments — including McDonald’s, Discover, Astellas, and more — that partnered with us to cultivate a culture of inclusion for all.
The Disability Inclusion Commitments are being updated based on lessons from our successful pilot program. Check back soon for an enhanced framework to help your organization foster a more disability-inclusive and equitable environment and for the opportunity to sign onto the updated Commitments!
We invite all organizations to take these actions to foster a more inclusive environment for those with apparent and non-apparent disabilities.
