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Aetna Embraces Employees with Disabilities

October 17th, 2007 Posted by Amelia

Aetna was recently recognized by the U.S. Office of Disability Employment Programs or ODEP for leadership in hiring and training employees with disabilities during that agency’s celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October.

Aetna is a diversified healthcare benefits company based in Hartford, Connecticut that employs 30,400 serving more than 28 million customers. The company is perhaps best known as a nationwide provider of health insurance. The company recently announced plans to expand its international unit, especially in England.

Aetna actively recruits employees with disabilities. The company also encourages employees with disabilities to seek the accommodations that they need, in order to be productive, engaged and at their peak performance.

As part of its diversity program, Aetna developed a website entitled Disability and the Workplace to address topics of interest to employees with disabilities and their supervisors. The site covers a wide range of topics from attitudinal barriers to career development. Employees and staff can get information on a variety of subjects using the in-house website. They are also free to ask questions that they might be uncomfortable asking in person.

The State of Connecticut’s Connect-Ability initiative honored Aetna in 2006 for their leadership and accomplishment in hiring and promoting people with disabilities. The award recognizes employers who understand that workforce diversity includes people with disabilities. The Connect-Ability Top Employer Awards were made by Department of Social Services (DSS) Bureau of Rehabilitation Services at the Connect-Ability Employment Summit held at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford.

In 2006, the U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao recognized Aetna with a New Freedom Initiative Award “for demonstrating exemplary and innovative efforts in furthering the employment and workplace environment for people with disabilities.” The award was accepted by Aetna President Mark T. Bertolini.

Aetna demonstrates how far we have come in employment for people with disabilities, in just a short time. It was not until 1990 that the talents of workers with disabilities became available in a significant way. That was the year the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed. The milestone legislation declared it against the law to discriminate against workers because of disabilities. That meant in hiring, promotion, and training. It also ensured access to the workplace for disabled workers. Before 1990, businesses, homes, and public buildings were not accessible by the disabled, especially those who used wheelchairs.

The New Freedom Initiative, approved in 2001, was designed to provide across-the-board participation in society for the disabled, including in the areas of work, education, and training. “Ticket to Work,” a recent program, is designed to promote access to job placement and training.

National Disability Awareness month is a chance to honor the accomplishments of disabled Americans, and to pledge a commitment to insure that the disabled worker receives enhanced employment opportunities. Disability Awareness Month, proclaimed by President George W. Bush, is also meant to assure workplace diversity.

Despite significant legislation and the inspiring stories of people who have fought the odds on the way to major achievement, the Office for Disability Employment Programs (ODEP) stresses that there is still chronic underemployment among the disabled population.

Dave Dravecky is an inspiring example of one who faced disability and went on to new accomplishments. The former Giants pitcher is the winner of the first ODEP SPIRIT Award, for perseverance, leadership, integrity, and independence. Dravecky was struck with bone cancer that resulted in the loss of his pitching arm. He turned his adversity around and became a best-selling writer and a motivational speaker.

Dr. Roy Grizzard suffered a degenerative retinal disease in his 20’s and was legally blind by 40. Despite his blindness he earned a PhD degree and became a teacher and school administrator. Dr. Grizzard then went on to a second career, joining a state agency for the disabled. From there he went on to become the director of ODEP.