Embedding disability inclusion into the Elsevier experience

In the image above: Elsevier works to ensure that people with disabilities and caregivers have the support and resources they need to thrive in their careers and contribute to Elsevier’s success. (Clockwise from upper left): Stacy Masucci, Publisher; Simon Holt, Head of Central Strategies for Content Acquisition and Disability Confidence Manager; Emily Thomson, Senior Editorial Project Manager; and Elizabethe Westgard, MSN-Ed, RN, Executive Editor for Clinical E-Learning. Elsevier is committed to creating an inclusive and equitable work environment that respects each individual and allows employees to fully contribute. We strongly believe that diversity of people and ideas makes our company stronger and creates value for our customers.

Elsevier hires diverse candidates from all over the world and aims to be an employer of choice for individuals from all backgrounds, including those with disabilities.

Many of our employees have disabilities or care for someone who does. Here are a few of their stories.

“Elsevier gave me the opportunity to get back to a healthy place.”

FlexWorx has helped Elizabethe even more. This policy allows her to be flexible with her hours as she navigates the very rigid health system.

Flex time is awesome! I can make up any time spent on caregiving outside of the ‘normal’ workday. Knowing I have the flexibility to get my work done is extremely helpful. It has enabled me to manage my time so that I can meet, and often exceed, my deliverables.

Simon Holt performs two roles at Elsevier: Head of Central Strategies for Content Acquisition and Disability Confidence Manager. Being visually impaired, he doesn’t drive and uses text-to-speech software to read articles online, but he doesn’t consider those things as challenges because he’s never known life any different:

Everyone is born with their own challenges. Some people are born in a country without basic civil rights. Some people don’t have access to quality education. Some people have disabilities. I have a disability, but I am not disabled; that is only part of me.

There is so much focus on what people can’t do. Let’s focus on what people can do rather than what they can’t.

Simon thinks his disability has made him highly adaptable and an excellent problem solver and listener —qualities that have helped him not only secure a job but excel at it. He considers himself lucky that someone who coincidentally had experience with visual impairment interviewed him to join Elsevier. He doesn’t want others to have to rely on a similar lucky break. He doesn’t think success for persons with a disability (PWD) should mean having a job. PWDs have as much to offer as non-disabled people so they should have the same opportunities.

For all these reasons, Simon created Elsevier Enabled in 2018 and is now Elsevier’s Disability Confidence Manager:

We want to make sure we have systems, structures and policies in place to ensure that we are fully inclusive of people with disabilities and long-term health conditions so they can fully succeed at Elsevier. The more people with disabilities work with us, the more disability confident we become.