Becoming the BeST: Creating an inclusive environment for the neurodivergent and disability communities

As a neurodivergent individual, Rylee Yogan has faced many hurdles. Bullied in high school, she still remembers being told she was “slow” and that she “didn’t have a future.” Once she entered the job market, she found discrimination there, too. “I’d mention I’m neurodivergent, and I’d end up not getting the job,” she recalls. She endured five years of unemployment, punctuated with jobs in food services, where her bosses often criticized her for processing information “too slowly.”

Yogan’s experience is common: The global unemployment rate among the disability community is over 70 percent. In her case, overcoming this hurdle started with the Path to Academics, Community and Employment (P.A.C.E.) program at National Louis University in Chicago, Illinois, which has a curriculum designed to help neurodivergent people extend their education and find a place in the job market. P.A.C.E. helped her secure an internship with JPMorganChase.

That’s where she found out about the bank’s Business Solutions Team (BeST). Launched in 2019, BeST was designed to help people who are neurodivergent, or have intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, and/or other types of disabilities find meaningful jobs that match their talents.

BeST participants take part in a 60-day paid internship, which gives both them and their managers the opportunity to see if they’re a good fit. Often, they move forward with a job offer. At the bank, Yogan was hired to be a transaction specialist, tasked with processing payments, including credit cards, money orders and checks. Here, she discovered her superpower: attention to detail.

“Even if I see one number off, I can catch it,” Yogan shares. “That’s my strong suit. Once I get into a rhythm, I’m able to produce a lot of work through focus and repetition.”

Not only is Yogan excelling at work, but her new role has also empowered her to take a major step in her personal life. For the first time, she’s been able to move out of her parents’ home and live independently — a milestone that speaks to the life-changing impact of meaningful employment.

“This job has given me the confidence to take charge of my own life. I’m proud of what I do and I feel valued here at JPMC. I know I’m part of a team that appreciates my strengths,” Yogan states.

Opening doors to opportunity

BeST uses two operating models; the first is BeST Shared Services, based in Plano, Texas, which employs specialists who serve businesses across JPMorganChase. Shared services employees work in various functions, including quality control, AI training, manual letter fulfillment and others.

The second model, BeST Supported, places employees with various lines of businesses and is currently supporting six locations — New York, Ohio, Illinois, Louisiana, Texas and California. JPMorganChase’s Global Accommodations team ensures that every employee has the resources they need to thrive, from seating and lighting adjustments to assistive technology.

“Neurodivergence and disability are part of the rich spectrum of human diversity. Recognizing this has pushed us to better understand the many ways the brain works — and to see the incredible, often overlooked talent within these communities,” says Danielle Meadows, Global Head of the Business Solutions Team and Director of Neuroinclusion Strategies at JPMorganChase. “Our mission is to create meaningful, sustainable opportunities that empower this marginalized community to thrive.”

Finding purpose and belonging

Aaron Carroll, one of BeST’s first hires, knows the impact of meaningful employment. Before joining JPMorganChase, his opportunities were limited by his cerebral palsy. Unable to get in the door at many companies, he worked as a dishwasher, bagged groceries and stocked shelves.

“I often felt lost and unimportant,” Carroll recalls.

After a year of unemployment, he connected with My Possibilities, a nonprofit in Plano, Texas, that provides vocational education and job placement for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They helped match him with a role at JPMorganChase, and he joined BeST in Plano, just as the program was expanding and adapting to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Carroll was among the first to work remotely, helping train AI technology and validate data for the bank — a role that allowed him to leverage his attention to detail.

“I never thought I would be working for one of the world’s top financial firms,” Carroll says. “I’ve been working here for five years. This job makes me feel like an essential part of the team, where I can show my leadership skills and feel needed in the community.”

Today, Carroll continues to work with the BeST Shared Services team, where he validates contracts for auto loans and handles the folding and mailing of collection letters to customers. With the support and resources provided by BeST, he’s found his stride and become a valued contributor, using technology to streamline processes and ensure accuracy.

“Working here has helped me realize my potential,” Carroll shares. “I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I know I’m making a real difference for my team.”

Building a culture of inclusion

The success of the BeST program is reflected in the recognition it has received. Disability:IN, the leading nonprofit resource for business inclusion worldwide, has named JPMorganChase a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion for 11 consecutive years. And Disability Belongs, a nonprofit that addresses critical gaps in disability employment, gave the bank its inaugural Disability Champion Award, an acknowledgment of JPMorganChase’s long-standing dedication to disability inclusion, both internally and in partnership with the wider community.

JPMorganChase continues to work with several nonprofit community partners — including My Possibilities, Bridges from School to Work, Greenleaf Job Training Services, NLU P.A.C.E. and The Ohio State University Nisonger Center — that help to source talented candidates for BeST. With plans to expand internationally, JPMorganChase remains dedicated to growing the BeST program — and improving disability inclusion and opportunity around the world.