Singapore's website secures SG Enable's Platinum Award for disability access and integration.
Deutsche Bank and DBS, two prominent banks in Singapore, are setting new standards for disability inclusion through targeted programs and collaborative efforts.
Deutsche Bank's dbEnable program, now in its 11th year, empowers individuals with disabilities by offering work placement opportunities that facilitate their integration into the workforce. The bank's commitment to fostering an inclusive culture is evident, as employees with disabilities are supported and valued.
In addition to dbEnable, Deutsche Bank prioritizes neurodiversity and mental health. This is evident in their inclusive cycling events with the Para Cycling Federation of Singapore and the presence of mental health first aiders. These initiatives aim to create a supportive environment for diverse cognitive needs, and have earned the bank recognition as "Asia’s Best Bank for Diversity and Inclusion" by Euromoney.
DBS, on the other hand, takes a collaborative and community-focused approach. The bank works with partners like Frasers Property to implement initiatives that support persons with disabilities at multiple levels. Programs such as the Nutrition and Social Connection Programme for vulnerable seniors and the Inclusion Champions programme, which trains employees and retail tenants on inclusivity, particularly addressing dementia and neurodivergence, are testament to this approach.
Key best practices demonstrated by these banks include structured work placement and employment programs tailored to persons with disabilities, employee resource groups and programs raising awareness of neurodiversity, collaborative efforts with community organizations and partners to foster inclusive environments, and provision of inclusivity training for employees and partners.
Deutsche Bank's dbEnable Work Placement Program offers students with disabilities professional experience across various bank divisions over a 10-week period. The bank also collaborates with SG Enable, the focal agency for disability inclusion in Singapore, to create equal employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
DBS, a founding member of the Singapore Business Network on Disability (SBNoD), is taking progressive steps to expand hiring efforts for people with disabilities across the region. Last year, the bank introduced the Neurodiversity@work program in Singapore, collaborating with the Autism Resource Center to onboard six autistic individuals into Operations roles.
These initiatives support employees with both visible and invisible disabilities. Through the Work Placement Program, students have been hired into permanent positions at Deutsche Bank and other major corporations. The banks' efforts have been recognized with the Platinum Enabling Mark by SG Enable, the highest tier of national-level accreditation for disability inclusion in Singapore.
These initiatives are part of a broader strategy to empower all employees and encourage a supportive work environment. By setting high standards for business-led disability inclusion, Deutsche Bank and DBS are paving the way for a more inclusive society in Singapore.
- Deutsche Bank, in addition to its dbEnable program, is also committed to promoting education-and-self-development opportunities for individuals with disabilities, as seen in their collaboration with SG Enable to create equal employment opportunities and the offering of professional experience in various bank divisions through the dbEnable Work Placement Program.
- DBS, in line with its commitment to business and finance, is striving to create an inclusive education-and-self-development environment by implementing programs like the Neurodiversity@work program, which collaborates with the Autism Resource Center to onboard people with disabilities into Operations roles, demonstrating its dedication to fostering a supportive society.
