Commerce’s new employee resource group supports team members with disabilities and caregivers

Disabilities are common in the U.S. workforce — perhaps more than many people may realize. One recent survey found, that 25% of people say they have a disability or health condition that limits a major life activity. If that number is surprising, consider that many disabilities aren’t apparent, such as learning disabilities, hearing impairments, or mental health conditions.

Despite these numbers, less than 5% of workers self-identify as a person with a disability to their employer. That gap indicates many organizations have employees who are living with disabilities their colleagues aren’t aware of.

For these and many other reasons, Commerce Bank has introduced ENABLE, a new employee resource group (ERG) to support team members with disabilities and caregivers and raise awareness of the issues many of these team members face.

Jordan Richards, a manager of business analysis at Commerce, was an early proponent of the idea of ENABLE. “I have a lot of people close to me who have disabilities, as do I,” he explains. “I met with our DEI team here at Commerce a while back, and we discussed the ideas I had. They thought it was a great idea, and things just took off from there.”

In addition to ENABLE, Commerce has ERGs for women, the LGBTQIA+ community, people of color, young professionals and military veterans. These groups are designed to help team members feel connected to a community and give them a sense of belonging. They offer opportunities for people to meet, share their experiences and raise awareness of important issues.

ENABLE, which launched on October 18, will provide that same experience for team members who have disabilities and/or are caregivers, and colleagues who want to show their support as allies.

“I’m hoping that through ENABLE we can raise awareness about disabilities and open a lot of doors for people,” says Richards. “Through this platform, we can provide people with disabilities the opportunity to ‘live out loud’ if they want to do so. We want people to know they can be themselves and don’t have to be quiet about their disabilities.”

Debbie Housh, an executive vice president and director of bank operations who is also the regional sponsor for ENABLE in Kansas City, says she hopes the ERG will help some team members feel a stronger sense of community.

“It can sometimes feel very lonely when you have a disability or are a caregiver,” she adds. “It can seem like you’re the only person dealing with that kind of a situation. It’s helpful to connect with a community of people who understand and can relate to your experience and how it might affect you at work.”

That feeling of isolation is one Housh has felt before, as she has a disability of her own — her severe anxiety (or Agoraphobia) prevents her from flying — and is a caregiver to her 19-year-old son, who is on the autism spectrum. She notes that her role can require travel, and her disability has created uncomfortable situations when she chooses to drive long distances rather than fly.

Housh says she also keeps her phone handy at all times so she can be available for her son. “If he texts and I don’t answer, he worries that something has happened to me,” she says. “If people don’t know that about me, they might wonder why I’m checking my phone all the time. Once people know, they understand and accept it. They recognize that my son’s disability doesn’t stop when I’m at work.”

As Richards notes, disabilities are more prevalent than many people think. “Many disabilities can’t be seen,” he says. “For some it’s depression, or a learning disability. Anything that’s out of your control that impacts your ability to do day-to-day activities is a disability. A lot of people are facing challenges that others aren’t aware of.”

Richards himself has a disability that can’t be seen — he is on the autism spectrum. “A couple years ago, I realized tasks that seemed easy for other people were hard for me,” he says. “I wasn’t sure if I was just lazy or if I was disrupted in some way.” His wife encouraged him to consult with a doctor, and eventually he was diagnosed with his condition. “Once I was aware of it, I was able to find some strategies that worked well for me,” he says.

Housh believes ENABLE will serve a critical need for people like Richards, herself and others. “It’s important for us as an organization to create a safe space in which people can feel comfortable opening up and talking about what they may need to be successful in their jobs, whatever that may be,” she says.

Craig Cook, a senior vice president and director of consumer servicing at Commerce, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis nearly two decades ago. “If you know someone with a disability — and you likely do — it’s important to recognize the difference between empathy and sympathy,” he says. “I would rather have empathy from someone, where they really understand what I’m dealing with. If ENABLE can help with that kind of education for people, that would be really valuable.”

Helping people do what they want and need to do — regardless of their circumstances — is what ENABLE is all about, according to Kim Jakovich, a senior vice president and executive director of talent management. Jakovich is also the new ERG’s executive sponsor. “Our culture is all about inclusion,” she says, “and we want to create an environment where all team members feel like they belong and have what they need to be successful. It connects directly to the idea of helping people be their best selves at work and at home.”

Jakovich adds that empathy is as important for caregivers in the workplace as it is for team members with disabilities. “Caregivers can benefit from all the support they can get,” she says. “I saw how difficult it was for my husband after my hip replacement surgery, when it was very difficult for me to get around. I’ve also just started my journey with aging parents, and I’m realizing I have a lot to learn. It’s difficult and, at times, frustrating. When I talk about empathy in my own context, I mean that I want to have empathy for my parents, and I want to have empathy for other caregivers. I think that taps into a main theme of why ENABLE was created.”

Richards believes one of the biggest benefits ENABLE can provide is for people with disabilities and caregivers to be understood. “After I was diagnosed, my wife and I had some open conversations about it, and it made me realize I’d never felt seen or heard like that before,” he says. “My dream for ENABLE is for other people who feel the way I’ve felt, whether they are caretakers, people with disabilities, or allies, to feel seen and heard, and to know how it feels when you recognize that your authentic self is valued.”