TD earns top score of 100 on 2024
Disability Equality Index®, reinforcing the
Bank's decades-long commitment to the advancement of diversity,
equity, and inclusion.
TORONTO, July 16,
2024 /CNW/ - TD Bank Group (TD) has been ranked as a
top-scorer in Canada on the 2024
Disability Equality Index®, which has expanded to Canada for the first time this year. The Bank
earned a top score of 100 on the renowned benchmark, joining the
first organizations in the country to be named a "Best Place to
Work for Disability Inclusion" this year.
"I'm incredibly proud of the work TD has done in Canada and across our business over the last
two decades to help create more accessible spaces for our
colleagues and customers, both at the Bank and within our
community," said Paul Clark,
Executive Vice President of TD Bank Group and Chair of the TD
Disability Inclusion Network. "Diversity, equity, and inclusion are
core to who we are and we are committed to continuing to remove
barriers and drive progress for disability inclusion at the
Bank."
In the U.S., this year marks a decade of recognition for TD
Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank®, as a top-scorer on the
Disability Equality Index and a "Best Place to Work for Disability
Inclusion" in that country. TD Bank has received the ranking every
year in the U.S. since the Disability Equality Index's
inception.
"Achieving this milestone for 10 consecutive years is a
testament to our continuous efforts to support and empower the
diverse experiences of our colleagues and customers," said
Chris Giamo, EVP, TD Bank Group,
Head of Commercial Banking and Executive Sponsor for the People
with Disabilities Area of Focus at TD Bank. "We believe that an
inclusive workplace not only benefits our colleagues but also helps
strengthen our organization and the communities that we
serve."
The Disability Equality Index is the world's most comprehensive
benchmarking tool for Fortune 1000 companies that measures
disability workplace inclusion inside these organizations and
assesses performance across industry sectors. The Disability
Equality Index was launched in 2015 in the United States as a joint initiative of
Disability:IN and The American Association of People with
Disabilities (AAPD) and is acknowledged today as the most robust
disability inclusion assessment tool in business.
"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.
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," said
Jill Houghton, President and CEO of
Disability:IN.
A Commitment to Disability Inclusion
Driving inclusion and equity for people with disabilities has
been a strategic focus for TD for more than a decade. During that
time, we have made considerable progress enhancing our policies,
developing more innovative technologies, and attracting talent
through targeted recruitment programs. Most recently:
- TD launched its accessibility browser plug-in, TD Accessibility
Adapter, to the public at no cost. The tool, which enables users to
personalize their online experience tied to individual
accessibility preferences, includes accessibility features such as
reading guides, adjustable font size, dark mode, a
dyslexia-friendly font, and monochrome mode.
- TD published its Annual TD Accessibility Progress Report in
Canada, a documentation of the
progress we have made this year to help identify, remove, and
prevent the creation of new accessibility-related barriers for our
customers and colleagues. Our longer-term commitments are outlined
in our three-year TD Accessibility Plan.
- TD established its Enterprise Accessibility Office, which aims
to promote accessibility and inclusion throughout the
organization.
- TD continues to be a proud host employer for Project SEARCH, a
national program that helps adult students with intellectual and
developmental disabilities transition into the workplace. The
program provides classroom instruction, career exploration, and job
skills training through three 10-week internship rotations. Earlier
this year, we celebrated the achievements of the seventh graduating
class of the one-year program.
- TD continues to work with Specialisterne, which has a hiring
program designed to increase representation of autistic
individuals. This Specialisterne program aims to showcase their
unique talents to help these individuals secure meaningful
employment.
Throughout the year, TD helps to amplify the voices and lived
experiences of people with disabilities by sharing the stories of
colleagues and customers through our TD Stories platform. Recent
topics covered include mental health and the importance of evolving
perceptions.
About TD Bank Group
The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively
known as TD Bank Group ("TD" or the "Bank"). TD is the sixth
largest bank in North America by
assets and serves over 27.5 million customers in four key
businesses operating in a number of locations in financial centres
around the globe: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking,
including TD Canada Trust and TD Auto Finance Canada; U.S. Retail,
including TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank®, TD Auto Finance
U.S., TD Wealth (U.S.), and an investment in The Charles Schwab
Corporation; Wealth Management and Insurance, including TD Wealth
(Canada), TD Direct Investing, and
TD Insurance; and Wholesale Banking, including TD Securities and TD
Cowen. TD also ranks among the world's leading online financial
services firms, with more than 17 million active online and mobile
customers. TD had $1.97 trillion in
assets on April 30, 2024. The
Toronto-Dominion Bank trades under the symbol "TD" on the
Toronto and New York Stock
Exchanges.
About the Disability Equality Index®
The Disability Equality Index has become the leading
independent, third-party resource for the annual benchmarking of
corporate disability inclusion policies and programs, and is now
trusted by more than 70% of the United States Fortune 100 and
nearly half of the Fortune 500. Such companies must increasingly
consider how emerging global reporting directives and stakeholder
expectations surrounding social and corporate governance factors
impact their operational, cultural, reputational and financial
performance.
The Disability Equality Index is an objective, reflective,
forward-thinking, and confidential disability rating tool designed
to assist business in advancing inclusion practices. It is a
comprehensive benchmark that helps companies build a roadmap of
measurable, tangible actions across five scored categories: Culture
& Leadership, Enterprise-Wide Access, Employment Practices,
Community Engagement, and Supplier Diversity. Participating
companies receive a score, on a scale of zero (0) to 100, with
those scoring 80 or higher earning the distinction of "Best Places
to Work for Disability Inclusion" for the benchmark year.
Findings from a two-year Global Disability Equality Index pilot
informed the launch of a scored benchmark that opened in 2024 to
seven new countries in addition to the
United States. These include: Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Japan,
the Philippines, and the
United Kingdom. Now in its
10th year, the Disability Equality Index has grown
nearly 7x since 2015, expanding from 80 companies in its first year
to 541 in 2024. Collectively, the 2024 edition received 748
submissions spanning the eight benchmarked countries.
About the American Association of People with Disabilities
(AAPD)
AAPD is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change,
increasing the political and economic power for people with
disabilities. As a national cross-disability rights organization
AAPD advocates for full civil rights for the 60+ million Americans
with disabilities. Learn more at: www.aapd.com
About Disability:IN
Disability:IN is a global organization driving disability
inclusion and equality in business. More than 500 corporations
partner with Disability:IN to create long-term business and social
impact through the world's most comprehensive disability inclusion
benchmarking and reporting tool, the Disability Equality Index;
best-in-class conferences and programs; expert counsel and
engagement; and public policy leadership. To learn more about
Disability:IN's key initiatives including Boards Are IN, Investors
Are IN, and CEOs Are IN, visit www.disabilityin.org
SOURCE TD Bank Group