Disney recently agreed to let a proposal from shareholders that would see its Disability Access Service (DAS) be reviewed by an independent expert be voted on. This will happen at its annual shareholder meeting this spring. Now, Disney has also revealed that it is advising shareholders to vote against this proposal. This comes after DAS was updated for Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort. There have been multiple updates to this system through the years. The most recent significant change saw the focus of the program be on “Guests who, due to a developmental disability like autism or similar, are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period of time.”
Here is the proposal that was made by shareholders who argue that this new DAS system should be reviewed:
Shareholders request that Disney commission an independent review, conducted by a qualified third party, of the company’s accessibility and disability inclusion practices. This review should assess legal, financial, and reputational risks; evaluate Disney’s policies against international accessibility standards and competitors; and identify opportunities for leadership improvement. Shareholders further request that the Board provide a public summary and internal briefing on the findings to ensure accountability and transparency.
Shareholder Proprosal
In the following proxy letter to shareholders, Disney recommends against voting for this proposal:
Board Recommendation
The Board recommends that you vote against this proposal for the following key reasons, as discussed in more detail below:
•The Company is committed to the design and implementation of innovative and effective services that accommodate persons with disabilities and already reviews its practices on an ongoing basis. The Company has been the industry leader in accessibility for over 30 years.
•The Company provides detailed public information, tips and recommendations regarding its accessibility and disability inclusion practices, both online and in person in its theme parks.
•The Company provides strong governance and oversight of its inclusion practices, as well as risk management.
•The proposal’s request would not enhance shareholder value.
Across the Company, we endeavor to provide opportunities to enjoy our products and services. To that end, the Company has made thoughtful investments to incorporate accessibility for people with disabilities throughout our operations as we strive to design, promote and serve as a model for accessibility. The Company has given the same attention to detail in its development of the Disability Access Service program for its domestic parks, which provides an extraordinary benefit – never having to wait in the regular standby lines for most rides for those who require that option. The Company also offers a broad range of different accommodations to assist in accessing the rides and other attractions in the parks, accessing our content and programming and experiencing our other products and services. For example, the Company offers a range of tools and accessibility features across our streaming platforms and networks, including tools such as audio descriptions, closed captioning, keyboard navigation and interoperability with popular screen readers.
The Company provides detailed information regarding accessibility and disability inclusion practices on its websites, including the publication of an Accessibility Topic Brief. Each of our theme parks also publicly provides thorough information about its accommodations and assists guests both before and during their visits. For our domestic theme parks, Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort, this includes pages on the Disability Access Service program with guidance on registration and the process for using the program once in one of the parks.
The Company has strong governance and oversight of both its accessibility efforts and risk management. Our Senior Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer leads Disney’s global people and culture strategy; talent acquisition and development; compensation and benefits; opportunity and inclusion; organizational effectiveness; and employee services and systems. Reporting to our Chief People Officer, our Senior Vice President and Chief Opportunity & Inclusion Officer leads the Company’s Opportunity & Inclusion strategy and partners closely with leaders and teams across all segments to foster a culture rooted in belonging. The Chief Safety Officer leads the Company’s guest safety efforts for Disney Experiences, including those related to guest accessibility, in collaboration with businesses and leaders across the Company. The Board and its committees oversee the Company’s major financial, legal and reputational risks, supporting strong brand stewardship and mitigation of such risks. See section entitled “The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight” in this proxy statement for more details.
The Company already details the support and accommodations it offers to guests and consumers with accessibility needs, as well as risk oversight practices and governance. The Board therefore believes that the proposal’s request is not in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders as it would not provide meaningful additional information to shareholders to merit the resources it would require.
The following statement is also made in the proxy:
The Board recommends that you vote “AGAINST” this proposal, and if the proposal is presented, your proxy will be voted against this proposal unless you specify otherwise.
At this point, the next move will be made during The Walt Disney Company’s annual shareholder meeting. Generally, most proxy suggestions made by Disney are followed by shareholders. However, with the amount of publicity DAS has gotten since the most recent significant change, this year could be different.
What do you think about this update to this story? What do you think Disney and its shareholders should do? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
