When it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion in hiring, employers often fail to consider people with disabilities. In fact, a recent study from the Return On Disability Group showed that although 90% of companies said they prioritized diversity, only 4% took disability into account when constructing their initiatives. With 61 million Americans living with some kind of disability, according to the CDC, this is a sadly untapped rich resource for employers. "Good leadership starts with a strong hiring process that looks for recruits based on business-critical skills that will help an organization identify the strongest talent, regardless of disability. Chances are, your organization has more than one employee working with a disability already," wrote Glenda Sims of Deque Systems in a recent op-ed. Accessibility is key for people with disabilities, and according to a recent study from social security and retirement website Better Benefits, some big cities are more ahead of the curve than others. "From social security disability insurance to public transit modifications, social programs can drastically improve the ability of disabled people to get around their city easily," the report states. To assemble their list of the most accessible cities in the U.S., Better Benefits compiled data from such diverse sources as Tripadvisor, Get Your Guide, and Dr. Handicap, as well as each city and state's official web sites. The study looked at medical eligibility specifications for disabled parking placards and/or license plates and parking permit fees. Nearly every city ranking at the bottom of the list charge for parking permits. Also, while the Americans with Disabilities Act outlines particular eligibility requirements for disabled parking placards, eligibility can vary from state to state, according to the study. Even some of the least accessible cities are mixed bags: Virginia Beach is one of two locations on the list (the other is New York City) where people with mental conditions like Alzheimer's and autism spectrum disorder can qualify for disabled parking. However, Virginia charges $5 for a permanent disabled parking placard. See our slideshow above for the most and least accessible cities in the country, and click here for the full report.
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