See how Wells Fargo is championing disability inclusion and supporting our efforts!
With one in four adults in the United States having a disability, it is critically important for businesses and organizations to be intentional about accessibility, inclusion, and belonging for disabled people. This spans across the spectrum of disabilities, including individuals with nonapparent disabilities, those born with them, and those with temporary or acquired disabilities.
As we celebrate Disability Pride Month 2024, we’d like to shine the spotlight on Wells Fargo, a company that has been working hard to advance disability inclusion both inside their organization and by partnering up with organizations like Disability Belongs™ (formerly RespectAbility).
Wells Fargo Chief Accessibility Officer Andrew Holbrook speaks at our 10th Anniversary Celebration
Support from Wells Fargo allowed us to positively impact the lives of many people with disabilities through our Leadership and Workforce Development initiatives. Disability Belongs™ is on the front lines in creating access to careers and strengthening a diverse talent pipeline of people with disabilities. This includes Leadership and Workforce Development programs such as our Entertainment Lab and National Leadership Program.
In 2023, 40 individuals completed our Lab for Entertainment Professionals with Disabilities. This program focuses on developing a talent pool of disabled professionals working behind the scenes in TV, film, and streaming. During the Lab, participants meet with studio executives and decision-makers, gaining valuable guidance and connections. Notably, Lab alumni have secured positions at major companies such as The Walt Disney Company, Netflix, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, and Sony Pictures Entertainment. We are proud to have graduated 169 Lab alumni from the program to date. Our work in Entertainment and News Media, which houses the Lab, has been receiving significant press coverage, including a great piece in the Hollywood Reporter.
Our partnership with Wells Fargo has also made a significant impact on our National Leadership Program, enabling our organization to train two full cohorts of future leaders with disabilities in 2023. This initiative empowers diverse and talented young leaders, providing them with critical skills, contacts, and experiences necessary for successful careers. The National Leadership Program is fully accessible and offers in-house job coaching, skills development, networking opportunities, assistive technology, and personal care support. We now have more than 250 alumni of the National Leadership Program.
Internally, Wells Fargo has been pushing to increase employee self-identification of disability status as an initiative to destigmatize negative stereotypes around disability and support their staff. This aligns with our mission and the core of our new brand. All employers should want disabled employees to disclose because employees are happier and more productive when they can bring all aspects of who they are into the workplace, including disability.
Additionally, Wells Fargo has sponsored events for several disability nonprofits this month, including our Disability Impact Awards in Washington, D.C. The company’s Chief Accessibility Officer, Andrew Holbrook, attended our Awards ceremony for the second year in a row.
