Voya research finds 1 in 5 people with disabilities experience discrimination when working with financial services companies
As Voya Cares® marks 10-year milestone, company continues to champion disability inclusion and caregiving, while highlighting the gaps that still exist
As Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE:VOYA) marks the 10‑year anniversary of Voya Cares® — its signature initiative to advance disability inclusion, support caregivers and expand access to financial planning — new research shows meaningful progress has been made despite persistent gaps that continue to impact employees with disabilities and their caregivers.
Since its launch in 2016, Voya has embedded disability inclusion throughout the company's products, services, workplace practices, partnerships and advocacy efforts. Marketing campaigns, proprietary research, financial education tools and bold collaborations have expanded the reach of Voya Cares across employers, advisors and nonprofit partners — reinforcing the important link between inclusion, workforce participation and long‑term financial well-being.
"We launched Voya Cares 10 years ago to address real employment and financial planning challenges faced by people with disabilities and caregivers," said Heather Lavallee, CEO, Voya Financial. "Over that time, we built partnerships and advocated for the disability community, and we expanded programs and benefits to better support our customers and employees. I'm proud of our progress, but the work isn't finished. Voya Cares reflects our ongoing commitment to disability inclusion and to improving outcomes for the people and communities we serve."
Research highlights progress — and a persistent inclusion gap
New Voya research conducted in support of the 10-year anniversary of Voya Cares shows improvements in workplace flexibility, awareness and support for employees with disabilities and caregivers — while revealing a consistent disconnect between employer perceptions and employee experience. As expectations for personalized financial support continue to rise, many employees with disabilities still report feeling less supported at work and when seeking financial guidance, underscoring the need for continued employer- and advisor-led engagement.
Key research findings*
- Workplace inclusion is improving — but experience still lags intent. Since 2018, supervisor awareness of the scope of employees with disabilities has risen to 91% (from 81%), alongside gains in workplace flexibility (83% versus 72%) and ability to balance work responsibilities (88% versus 74%). Yet only 76% of employees with disabilities say they feel supported at work, compared with 90% of employers who believe they are.
- Barriers persist beyond the workplace. More than 1 in 5 people with disabilities (21%) report experiencing discrimination when seeking financial planning support at financial institutions — five times the rate of the general population (4%). And 46% of people with disabilities cite emotional stress as a barrier when seeking support related to financial planning, versus 25% of the general population.
- Financial education remains a critical gap. While 51% of people with disabilities have heard of ABLE® (Achieving a Better Life Experience) accounts — tax-deferred savings accounts for people with disabilities — just 2% of employees correctly understand their key features, highlighting the need for clearer, more accessible financial guidance.
Turning Insight into Action
Through Voya Cares, Voya continues to integrate disability inclusion into its business and client experience. Most recently, this includes sponsoring financial professionals so they can earn the Chartered Special Needs Consultant® (ChSNC®) designation to help make a better experience for families navigating disability- and caregiving-related financial planning. It also includes providing support and expertise on ABLE accounts. These tax‑advantaged savings tools help people with disabilities save for qualified expenses — such as housing, education, transportation and health care — without jeopardizing eligibility for critical public benefits like Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid.1
"Many employees are quietly balancing caregiving responsibilities alongside their careers, yet those needs are often overlooked in traditional financial conversations," said Juneen Kirk, SVP, Customer Experience, Marketing & Commercial Expansion, Workplace Solutions. "By investing in chartered special needs training for our advisors, we're expanding access to knowledgeable, inclusive financial guidance — including practical solutions like ABLE accounts — that can help families build security without compromising critical benefits. It's one way we're ensuring employees and caregivers receive personalized support that reflects the complexity of their financial lives."
A yearlong anniversary campaign
Voya is marking the 10-year anniversary of Voya Cares with a closing bell ceremony at the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday, April 7. The broader celebration will also include a content initiative highlighting people, families, advocates and employees whose experiences reflect the impact of Voya Cares, alongside the new research insights to benchmark progress and inform future solutions, advocacy and innovation.
| *Voya Cares survey conducted Feb. 3-17, 2026, among 666 employees, featuring n=224 general population employees, n=239 employees who are caregivers, and n=231 employees with disabilities, as well as n=306 employers |
1Recent federal changes have expanded eligibility to individuals whose disability began before age 46, significantly widening access to long-term financial security for millions more people. Learn more about ABLE accounts, including insights from Rebecca Chiccino, SVP, Investor Channel, at voya.com/page/able-accounts. |
About Voya Financial®
Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE:VOYA) is a leading retirement, employee benefits and investment management company. Voya's services and solutions help clear the path to financial confidence and a more fulfilling life for individual, workplace and institutional clients, supporting more than 18 million customer relationships. Certified as a "Great Place to Work" by the Great Place to Work® Institute, Voya fosters a culture that values customer centricity, integrity, accountability, agility and inclusivity. Together with customers and partners, Voya employees fight for everyone's opportunity for a better financial future. For more information, visit voya.com and follow Voya Financial on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
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