Inclusiveness and Accessibility Index

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, GoI in collaboration with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) have introduced an index, to measure inclusiveness and accessibility of PwDs across different kinds of organisations.

The composite index is split into two independent sub-indices that separately measure inclusiveness, and accessibility (I&A). The Inclusiveness and Accessibility Index (I&A Index) is not a substitute for the legal obligations that exist under national or international regulatory regimes. It aims at assessing the current stage of inclusiveness and accessibility of PwDs in an organisation and also acts as a guide for taking progressive steps to increase support, inclusiveness and accessibility towards persons / employees with disabilities.

The details of the sub indices are as follows.

Inclusive and Accessibility Index

Inclusive policies and Organizational Culture

• Equal opportunity and Top Management Commitment
• Organizational Policies and Culture.
• Corporate Social Responsibility.
• Inclusiveness of the Supply Chain

Inclusive Employment

• Percentage with Employees with Disabilities
• Career Growth
• Penetration of Employees with Disabilities across Functions
• Types of Disabilities Accommodated

Awareness and Adaptations

• Workplace adaptations
• Awareness and Sensitization Programmes
• Grievance Redress
• Social Inclusion

Accessibility Sub-Index

Accessibility Related Practices

• Accessibility of Recruitment and Selection Practices
• Accessibility of Career Development Programmes
• Accessibility of Workplace

Infrastructural Accessibility

• Physical Infrastructure Accessibility
• Accessibility of Information and Communication
• Accessibility of web portals

Product and Services Action

• Product/Service Development
• Accessibility of Product & Services
• Accessibility in Supply Chain

Methodology

The toolkit is designed as a maturity model with measurable steps defined as 'indicators' to enable an organisation to progressively improve its ranking on the Inclusiveness and Accessibility Index.

The methodology for determining the position of an organisation on the inclusiveness and accessibility index is as follows:

• Each of the sub-indices Inclusiveness and Accessibility have equal weightage in the composite index.
• Both Inclusiveness and Accessibility sub-indices have 3 components each. Each of these three components have equal weightage in the related index.
• The Inclusiveness and Accessibility sub-indices, therefore, are computed by calculating the average of the sub-component rating scores.
• Each sub-component has various indicators which carry specific rating points. The rating for these indicators at a particular rating scale (1 to 4) adds up to 1. The columns signifying ratings of sub components (ranging from 1 to 4 on the level of performance) are not mutually exclusive and each successive rating is built on the previous level.

The toolkit highlight the methodology to rate each component and their sub-component based on following three dimensions:

1. Availability of approach or policy or an SOP evidencing the answers to the questionnaire
2. The degree of implementation and
3. The outcome of the results.

For More Information on Inclusiveness and Accessibility Index Click here (879KB)

Questionnaire for measurement of I & A index

To facilitate measurement of this index, a questionnaire has been designed to assess an organisation's standing on the I&A Index. The questionnaire is designed to enable the assessor to give appropriate ratings to individual organisations that choose to be assessed. The questionnaire also has two sections applicable to the two indices: Inclusiveness and Accessibility. Each section has three key components. Questions can be easily answered by an organisation by ticking the appropriate parameters that are applicable. However, care must be taken that each 'tick' mark is substantiated with credible evidence.

Questionnaire for measurement of I & A index Click here (188KB)

Source: Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan)