Results at a glance
- Advanced Lumen's neuroinclusion strategy by providing company-wide support for all.
- Delivered impact beyond the workplace to employees family members.
- Improving the workplace experience for employees and boosted productivity.
Lumen Technologies is a global communications company that connects people, data, and applications for businesses, offering solutions in networking, edge cloud computing, collaboration, cybersecurity, and managed services.
Read&Write for WorkA strong commitment to neuroinclusion
In January 2024 Lumen made Read&Write for Work, available to all Lumen staff and their families. Lumen’s active support of employees with disabilities has earned them numerous industry accolades. From being named as Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion by Disability:IN, and being featured on Forbes’ Best Employer for Diversity award. To ranking #12 in the Careers & the disABLED Top 50 Employer for Persons with Disabilities list worldwide.
On their commitment India Sylvester from Lumen shared:
“Lumen embraces diversity and the skills all employees bring to their jobs. We are walking the walk by actively supporting our employees because we know this can unlock their potential.”
A driving force
FRIENDS (Friends Respecting Inspiring Everyone Needing Disability Support) has a membership of over 700 Lumen employees. It aims to increase awareness of diverse disabilities, provide resources, and offer support to those who need a friend.
Having shared that neurodivergent employees at Lumen requested better tools to support them, FRIENDS Global Chair took action. Deb Andersson, also Senior Analyst – Contracts and Compliance at Lumen, shares:
“I was happy to research, and after reviewing multiple possibilities we found Read&Write for Work. It offered the most complete solution for members. It will provide the tools to allow employees to break down barriers and to showcase their best self at work. It will benefit not only our neurodiverse employees, but all Lumen employees and their families.”
At Lumen, the grassroots efforts of FRIENDS and our employee resource groups are helping to create a neuroinclusive work culture where everyone can be their authentic selves. Our ERGs play a critical role by supporting employee career development and engagement. And equally important, these groups help connect us with our increasingly diverse customer base.
The impact for Lumen employees
Since the initial rollout, Read&Write has had a profound impact on Lumen's workplace culture and employee productivity. In its early rollout stages, nearly 200 employees have started to use the tools, and close to 30 families have taken advantage of the Free for Family initiative.
Rachel Carter and Tonya Baumgartl, both members of Lumen's FRIENDS Employee Resource Group (ERG), share how Read&Write has transformed their daily working-lives:
As a neurodiverse person, having the screen masking, the custom dictionary and read back option has been a game-changer. This is a great tool that helps me be more efficient and productive.
As a legally blind person, I highly recommend resources like this one for anyone who needs assistance with reading and writing. It is easy to use and learn, and it offers a variety of tools to help you with your daily tasks.
The impact beyond the workplace
Not just focused on creating a fair and supportive work environment, Lumen also cares about their wider societal impact. India Sylvester emphasizes the importance of digital accessibility:
"Accessibility is not just a feature - it’s a fundamental aspect of our culture at Lumen. It’s about recognizing the diverse needs of our employees and customers and meeting them where they are. Our partnership [with Everway] serves as a reflection of our commitment to creating a world where everyone can succeed.”
At the time of the software rollout, Lumen also decided to extend their Read&Write offering to their employees’ family members. This was made possible through our Family Access program. Not only does this initiative help our customers to support their wider community, it allows them to support the people their employees value the most, their families.
Deb Andersson, Global Chair of Lumen’s FRIENDS Employee Resource Group (ERG), who championed the provision of Read&Write says: “FRIENDS was so proud and happy to be a part of providing this great tool that promotes inclusion and professionalism for all. I love that this is available for every Lumen employee and that Lumen families can download it to their home computers at no charge to help their kids in school too.”
Future outlook: What's next for Lumen?
Looking ahead, Lumen and Everway remain dedicated to advancing neuroinclusion and accessibility. Our partnership continues to evolve, driven by a shared commitment to empowering individuals with diverse abilities. Bryan Horne, Lumen’s Vice President Enterprise Digital Journeys and FRIENDS ERG executive sponsor, sums up our collaborative spirit:
“Lumen wins as our employees win. Providing software that eases the day-to-day experience while promoting a healthier, more productive workplace for those with neurodiverse conditions is a huge win for our employees and their families. This is what winning through inclusion, care, and compassion looks like. This is Lumen.”
