National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Every October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month commemorates the many and varied contributions of the roughly 61 million individuals with disabilities—roughly 1 in 4 Americans. 

Highlights follow from Booz Allen’s work in the realm in October and year round, including providing leadership through the firm’s Global Disabilities BRG, increasing education and awareness in areas such as mental health and neurodiversity, and delivering employees the support they need.

Common areas of disability include mobility (13.7%), cognition (10.8%), difficulties with independent living (6.8%), hearing (5.9%), and vision (4.6%). Over the past 19 months, another area has risen to the fore: mental health. 

Since the pandemic started, 67% of people have been experiencing increases in stress, 54% are emotionally exhausted, and 42% have experienced a decline in mental health, according to Booz Allen Vice President Brian MacCarthy, executive sponsor of the firm’s Global Disabilities Business Resource Group (BRG).

“I recently read an article about the Secretary of Defense’s call to stop stigmatizing mental health help,” MacCarthy said. “I talk to a lot of people in the disabilities space—both within our BRG and across the firm—and I’m hearing echoes of Secretary Austin’s concern about stigma more and more. Some folks aren’t sure where to get help, some folks are afraid to ask for it, and some are looking for leaders to step up, model the way, and make it a priority. I know our BRG can be that leader and voice for the community.”

Recently, Booz Allen’s Global Disabilities BRG welcomed three new co-chairs:

Senior Technologist Larry Lewis is currently working to grow Booz Allen’s Section 508 consultancy business, the latest milestone in a career of nearly three decades. He also is totally blind.

“The road to employment can be littered with a variety of vocational potholes, from applying to a job to convincing leadership that, with the right assistive technologies, accommodations, and modifications, we are as qualified to contribute as our able-bodied peers,” he said. 

“I'm thankful that Booz Allen recognizes what we, as disabled employees, have to offer and that it is committed to creating an equitable work environment so that we might more fully participate and contribute and flourish,” Lewis said.

Shahzad Hussain is a chief technologist who recently reached the 10-year mark with Booz Allen. He’s supported the firm’s work across the defense industry and federal government, and contributed to work on innovation within the company as well. He currently leads a program supporting the U.S. Postal Service.   

“Disabilities inclusion is personal to me and the BRG role gives me a tremendous opportunity to further advance our firm’s disability inclusion strategy. I find the entire experience to be highly rewarding,” Hussain said. “I often discover that diversity and inclusion initiatives focus heavily on achieving gender, race, and sexual orientation equality, but at times neglect people with disabilities. I’m pleased that Booz Allen is taking a stand, and I truly find that my personal goals and ambitions align very well with the BRG’s vision and mission,” Hussain said.

Francesca “Cesca” Daniels designs wargames for the Department of Defense and leads the development of the firm's space-related wargames. She also lives with an invisible disability.

“I have a progressively degenerative neurological disease that impacts sensory and motor function. I have to approach each day differently, and I require accommodations to be in the office,” Daniels said.

"I am honored to have this opportunity to help lead our firm's efforts in making a meaningful difference in the lives of those living with disabilities—both the ones that can be seen and those that are unseen," she said. 

Unseen disabilities were the focus of “Well Now,” an expert-led, interactive session with insight and guidance about non-visible disabilities, developed and hosted by the Global Disabilities BRG beginning in October.   

“When most people see someone at work in a wheelchair, wearing a hearing aid, or using any assistive device, they are most likely aware that the person has a disability,” the session began by noting. “But not all disabilities are visible, and one question that people sometimes ask is, ‘How can you tell if someone has a non-visible disability?’ The answer: you don't.” 

Other activities Booz Allen facilitated during National Disability Employment Awareness Month included:

• Training—open to all employees—about neurodiversity: what it is and the benefits of hiring people who think and communicate differently
• A Queer Disabilities Roundtable co-hosted with GLOBE+, Booz Allen’s LGBTQ+ BRG
• “A Disability Accommodation Journey”—a special episode of Booz Allen’s Unstoppable Together podcast with Jennifer Kerner from the Global Disabilities BRG and Brooke Matheson from the firm’s accommodations team, who talked about self-disclosure, requesting and receiving on-the-job accommodations, and leading with empathy and understanding

“By raising awareness of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we promote inclusion of everyone, educate on ways to support people with disabilities, and foster a sense of belonging in our work and communities,” MacCarthy said.

Booz Allen’s commitment to inclusion and support extends throughout the year. Over the past 12 months, the Global Disabilities BRG has: 

• Hosted a Disability Mentoring Day for college-bound seniors in Maryland and Virginia
• Spoken about workforce diversity and inclusion efforts on several Unstoppable Together podcasts
• Participated in numerous panel discussions about inclusion, awareness, and mental health
• Partnered with The Arc, a national organization supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, to connect with potential talent and to identify areas for improvement in recruitment and retention 

Long considered a leader in disability inclusion, Booz Allen recently was recognized for its work in this area: 

• CAREERS & the disABLED magazine’s 2021 Private Sector Employer of the Year 
• A 100% score on the Disability Equality Index^® (DEI) for the seventh year in a row.

Learn more about Booz Allen’s Global Disabilities BRG, the firm’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and careers at Booz Allen.