State of
Disability Inclusion
in MBA Programs

World's first report on disability inclusion in MBA programs

Until now, little was known about the experiences of people with disabilities in MBA programs. We cannot address what we do not know. Now, we hope we can change that.

This report sheds light on six parts of the MBA journey for students with disabilities – pre-admission, academic life, student life, in-program recruiting, overall MBA experience, and post-graduation experience.

We hope that the findings from this report can serve as an opportunity for systemic change – an opportunity to improve inclusion of people with disabilities in MBA programs. 

For media enquiries, please reach out to [email protected].

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Watch Our Event

Dive deeper into the data with us! 

Watch a discussion about the findings from this landmark report with its authors, Dr. Katherine Breward and Dr. Dan Samosh. 

Learn more about how Access to Success is helping MBA students with disabilities, and how we can build a pipeline of future leaders with disabilities.

Watch our April 12th event below.

Watch Panel Discussion
Cartoon illustration of people with various abilities, ethnic groups, genders, and ages using a variety of assistive devices and electronics.

Join the Campaign - Share on Social Media!

#MBAble #LeadersWithDisabilities

Graphic features 4 clip arts of students with visible disabilities, with the text "Did you know? People with disabilities are more attracted to MBA programs that advertise disability-related supports."
Graphic with the title, "15% of the world's population experience some form of disability". The subtitle reads, "Yet, just 7% of business leaders identify as having a disability". Below that is an illustration of two people holding up the earth. On the bottom center is a footnote, "Source: World Report on Disability, World Health Organization and The World Bank, 2011, The Business Leadership Imperative, Valuable 500 and EY, 2019"
Title: "Ways to increase MBA enrollment among people with disabilities." 4 categories with recommendation from respondents from State of Disability inclusion in MBA programs report: Awareness & Visibility: Build awareness among faculty and administrators of accommodation-related laws with meaningful consequences for non-compliance, Resources: Create a campus resouce center devoted to students with disabilities. Accommodations: Waive the standardized testing exams, Training: Implement anti-bias and disability awareness training for peers and recruiters.
Title reads: “7 ways to increase inclusion of MBA students with disabilities.” Numbered points in the middle: 1) A campus resource center or similar help resource devoted to students with disabilities, 2) Ask about accommodations during application process, 3) Engage in proactive outreach and recruiting of students with disabilities, 4) More time for exams and assignments, 5) Waive standardized testing, 6) Permit remote access to lectures, 7) Build awareness among faculty and administrators of accommodation-related laws and requirements. Disclaimer: Based on the 'State of Disability Inclusion in MBA programs' report. Hashtags listed: #MBAble #LeadersWithDisabilities. A clipart on the bottom right of a group of people ranging from age and gender, with a person using a wheelchair in the middle.
“Top 10 Barriers to MBA application for people with disabilities.” The list is: 1) Completion of the GMAT, 2) Written essay, 3) Video essay, 4) Reference letters from employers, 5) Completion of other standardized test such as GRE, 6) Phone/video interview, 7) In-person interviews, 8) Evidence of a specific amount of time in the workforce, 9) Prior academic transcripts, 10) Resume. Disclaimer on the bottom reads: Based on the ‘State of Disability inclusion in MBA Programs’ report.
Clip art of 3 gentlemen on a stroll and conversating, one using a wheelchair. Caption reads: "Think making accessibility accommodations cost a lot? Think again. 50% of workplace accommodations don't cost anything. The rest usually cost less than $500." Footnote on the bottom: Source: Average Costs of Reasonable Accommodations in The Workplace, Job Accommodation. Network Survey 2020 prepared for the US Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy.
A clipart of a gentleman filling out an application on the bottom right of the image. The title says, "51% of respondents were not presented any opportunity to disclose their disability while applying for MBA." Additional text says, "In fact, just 46% of the respondents chose to disclose their disability during the application process, either voluntarily or when given an opportunity. Bottom disclaimer: Based on the 'State of Disability Inclusion in MBA programs' report.
Graphic with title: "15 of the top 25 accommodations requested by respondents do not cost anything." Some examples are listed: 1) More time during exams, 2) Front row seating in lectures, 3) More time for assignments, 4) Use of video captions, 5) Distraction-free, quiet testing environments, 6) Share lecture slides in advance of class. Bottom disclaimer: Based on the 'State of Disability Inclusion in MBA programs' report. Hashtags listed: #MBAble #LeadersWithDisabilities
Graphic with title, "Training to improve disability inclusion in the MBA." There are three bullet points listed, "Create more dialogue on campus about disability, including formal diversity training; provide better access to mentors; and provide managerial training on specific disabilities and associated anti-stigma education."
Graphic with the title, "Accommodations to improve disability inclusion in the MBA." There are four bullet points, "focus on the needs of individual people rather than compliance with a generic accommodation policy; offer flexible deadlines; permit remote access to lectures; and automatically ask about accommodation needs when candidates are applying." On the bottom left is a disclaimer, "Based on recommendations from respondents in the State of Disability Inclusion in MBA Programs report."
Title says, "Pre-admissions Experience - 1 in 3 respondents faced barriers, yet less than half of them disclosed their disability." Beneath it, "Over half of the respondents were not presented any opportunity at all to disclose their disability during the application process." There is an illustration on the bottom right of a person sitting on a pile of books and working on a laptop. At the bottom, the disclaimer reads, "Based on the State of Disability Inclusion in MBA Programs report."
Graphic with the title, "Resources to improve disability inclusion in the MBA." There are four bullet points, "create a campus resource center or similar help resource devoted to students with disabilities; have formal support groups on campus for students with disabilities; provide financial support; and have a formal disability advocate on campus." On the bottom left is a disclaimer, "Based on recommendations from respondents in the State of Disability Inclusion in MBA Programs report."
Title says, "Academic Experience - 2 out of 3 respondents needed accommodations, but over a quarter of them never requested any." Beneath it, "Common reasons for not requesting include finding the process itself daunting." There is an illustration on the bottom right of a person teaching a child. At the bottom, the disclaimer reads, "Based on the State of Disability Inclusion in MBA Programs report."
Graphic with the title, "Awareness & visibility to improve disability inclusion in the MBA." There are four bullet points, "provide proactive advertising of availability of disability supports and accommodations; represent more students with disabilities in marketing materials; engage in proactive outreach and recruiting of students with disabilities; and hire more faculty members with disabilities." On the bottom left is a disclaimer, "Based on recommendations from respondents in the State of Disability Inclusion in MBA Programs report."
Title says, "Student Life Experience - Over 60% of respondents experienced difficulties with casual social interactions and informal social gatherings." Beneath it, "Just over half of the respondents felt that their social experiences on campus were impacted by their disability" There is an illustration on the bottom right of a two people sitting at a desk and having a conversation. At the bottom, the disclaimer reads, "Based on the State of Disability Inclusion in MBA Programs report."
Title says, "On-campus Recruitment - Half of the respondents had a negative perception of employers' on-campus recruitment drives." Beneath it, "Negative reports included bias, stereotyping and ableism along with inaccessible recruiting experiences during employer-driven processes." There is an illustration on the bottom right of a person writing "hired" as three other people look on. At the bottom, the disclaimer reads, "Based on the State of Disability Inclusion in MBA Programs report."
Title says, "Overall MBA Experience - 2 out of 3 respondents were satisfied with their overall MBA experience." Beneath it, "A substantial minority perceived a lack of inclusiveness in learning materials, teaching approaches and the overall environment." There is an illustration on the bottom right of a group of children in front of a whiteboard. "Based on the State of Disability Inclusion in MBA Programs report."
Title says, "Post-Graduation Experience - 40% of respondents reported being underemployed or involuntarily unemployed." Beneath it, "An alarming 40% of respondents who had graduated reported being underemployed (22%) or involuntarily unemployed (18%)." There is an illustration on the bottom right of a group of children in front of a whiteboard. "Based on the State of Disability Inclusion in MBA Programs report."
Title: "Ways to increase MBA enrollment among people with disabilities." 4 categories with recommendation from respondents from State of Disability inclusion in MBA programs report: Awareness & Visibility: Build awareness among faculty and administrators of accommodation-related laws with meaningful consequences for non-compliance, Resources: Create a campus resouce center devoted to students with disabilities. Accommodations: Waive the standardized testing exams, Training: Implement anti-bias and disability awareness training for peers and recruiters.
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