Schneider Electric: Prioritizing Accessibility for All

As part of Schneider Electric’s commitment to DEI, they have done deep work towards ensuring that everyone can access their products and services, and that staff can have the support they need to work effectively regardless of ability. Accessibility is an important issue for Schneider because anyone can become disabled at any point in their career and people with disabilities make up the largest minority group. The work Schneider is doing reaches from policy to its physical buildings to its website. Schneider is a member of the International Labor Organization’s Global Business Disability Network and signed the network’s charter. And they’ve made some commitments to create a more accessible future. Moving forward, they want all of their systems, solutions, products and policies to be accessible by design. By 2027, 80% of their staff will be working in disability friendly facilities. These buildings are not only compliant physically but also consider invisible disabilities. They are also making sure their events are accessible, including ensuring there are ramps when a stage is used.

Schneider is working to bake accessibility into its hiring and procurement processes–job descriptions, onboarding and requests for proposals so they comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. This work is supported at the highest levels of the company, but to ensure that its work is actually meeting the needs of staff of all abilities, Schneider works with its Accessibility and Allies employee resource network to pilot its new ideas and get input on how to improve them. It is currently developing a governance system that would incorporate people with disabilities into the design process.  

For more information, contact Alban Jacquin at: alban.jacquin@se.com.