“With the right support and people who believe in you, there’s nothing you can’t do.”
Those words are from Josh Whitaker. He’s one of Vistra’s environmental directors, a spinal cord injury survivor, and for 25 years, has been working to cultivate a deep sense of belonging at Vistra, where he chairs the Vistrability employee resource group.
“I started Vistrability because I wanted to give someone else the opportunity for a meaningful life,” Whitaker said. The group works to increase disability awareness and sustain and grow an inclusive, accessible culture at Vistra and in the communities we serve. Several times each year, Vistrability partners with The Texas Ramp Project to build wheelchair ramps for families in need.
“I volunteered for one of Vistrability’s ramp builds and had a great time making an impact,” said Nathan Wood, a Wise County Power Plant control room operator. “I wanted to bring the idea to my community.”
Wood has organized three ramp builds in his area, including one project just a few minutes from the plant. Inspired by his efforts, his team members donated $1,000 to help with the costs.
Since the partnership with The Texas Ramp Project began in 2022, over 250 Vistra employees have volunteered hundreds of hours to build 40 ramps.
For Whitaker, and the Vistrability group, this is their mission in action: no person should be excluded from opportunity based on their disability. Whitaker knows first-hand that these ramps make life easier but also understands that they represent much more – freedom.
“Hopefully, this will be a legacy that lives on long after I am gone,” he said.
The work Vistrability is doing both inside and outside the company continues to garner national attention.
For the third consecutive year, Vistra has been recognized as one of the “2024 Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion” in the annual Disability Equality Index by Disability:IN. The Disability Equality Index, a joint initiative of Disability:IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities, evaluates companies on criteria including culture and leadership, enterprise-wide access, employment practices, and community engagement.
To view full list visit, disabilityin.org.