Behind every meaningful change is someone who refuses to accept barriers as the norm. At Equinix, that person is Weslie Ricks, the trailblazer who leads accessibility programs on our Community and Belonging team. Weslie’s work ensures that accessibility is woven into the fabric of our culture — because inclusion isn’t just a policy, it’s a commitment. We sat down with Weslie to learn more about her role and what accessibility means at Equinix.

Can you share a little bit about yourself and your role at Equinix?

I’m Weslie Ricks, a manager on our Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging and Accessibility (DIBA) team within Community and Belonging. I lead accessibility programs that focus on equal access and disability inclusion to create an environment and experiences where everyone—employee or customer—can thrive. My passion for this work comes from lived experience and a deep belief that accessibility benefits everyone. I am a person with a disability, and I live with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and a neurological movement disorder that manifests in seizures and muscle spasms. I am also a mother to three children with disabilities. I have seen firsthand the barriers they face living with autism or hearing impairments—barriers that are not inherent to themselves, but barriers society has built.

What does accessibility mean at Equinix?

Over 15% of the world’s population have a disability, and by 2030, billions of people will rely on assistive technology. Accessibility means designing environments, tools, policies and experiences that everyone, regardless of ability or disability, can use fully and independently. Accessibility at Equinix is about belonging and respect. It’s ensuring that every employee can bring their whole self to work and succeed. Our team drives initiatives that make this possible—through inclusive design, awareness programs and partnerships that advance disability inclusion. We also support candidates through a global accommodations process, ensuring equitable experiences from the very start.

In a few sentences, could you give us the gist of working in the community and belonging team at Equinix?

Our work in Community and Belonging touches every part of the employee experience. From our local WeAreEquinix chapters and Employee Connection Networks (also known as employee resource groups) to programs like Days of Understanding and the Equinix Foundation, we create spaces where employees can not only work but belong. ConnectAbilities, our EECN for people with disabilities, neurodiversity, caregivers, and more, is an integral partner in creating community for these groups and educating allies on how to serve and support us.

What are some milestones that you’re most proud of? 

We marked one of the most meaningful milestones when our CEO, Adaire Fox-Martin, signed the Disability Inclusion CEO Commitment Letter from Disability:IN early this year. That pledge signaled a strong commitment from the top to advancing accessibility and disability inclusion across Equinix and the industry.

We’re also proud to have been recognized as a “2025 Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion” by the Disability Equality Index in the U.S., Brazil, Germany and Japan—an achievement that reflects the progress we’ve made and the roadmap we’re building for the future.

Another highlight is education and awareness. Since 2023, we’ve trained over 3,000 employees on accessibility and disability inclusion, equipping teams with the knowledge and tools to create a more inclusive workplace, because it takes all of us.

While we’ve made big wins, the changes in culture are even more important, including ASL signs of the week in our Toronto office, an Autism Acceptance Month event in Chile, captioning enablement across the enterprise, and serenity rooms for neurodivergent colleagues to have quiet spaces to work. What was once new territory now shapes everyday practices within our culture. These milestones remind us that accessibility isn’t a one-time initiative; it’s a continuous journey of learning, action and impact.

Why is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities so important to you? 

This day holds profound significance for me. As someone living with invisible disabilities, a mother to three incredible children with disabilities, and a professional in this space, advocating for the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities isn’t just part of my work—it’s my life’s work. It’s a cause I carry with me daily, and this day serves as a powerful reminder of the work we’ve done and the work still ahead. People with disabilities remain the most marginalized group globally and still experience up to 80% unemployment in most countries. The reality is that most of us will have a disability at some point in our lives. And regardless of whether someone is born with a disability or acquires it at some point along the journey, accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities are fundamental rights.

Accessibility in our community

We also spoke with employees across the globe to hear their perspectives on how Equinix is creating a workplace where everyone matters.

Hack for Good 

Accessibility isn’t just about policies; it’s about empathy and innovation. At Equinix, we believe technology can be a powerful enabler of inclusion. In September, we launched an enterprise-wide Hack for Good hackathon with three clear priorities: accessibility, innovation and AI. 

The hackathon brought together teams across the company to design solutions that make life easier and more inclusive for everyone. 

As Jon Lin, Chief Business Officer, shared:

Accessibility isn’t a niche topic; it must be front and centre for us. AI can be leveraged to take something difficult and turn it into something simple, intuitive and conversational, and that is what the spirit of this hackathon is all about.

For AJ Coon, SVP of Engineering Excellence, accessibility is more than a feature—it’s a mindset:

Accessibility is simple equal access for all. What starts as accessibility often becomes mainstream innovation. It drives better products, happier customers, and more engaged employees. Accessibility isn’t just about features; it is about belonging. Belonging means being seen, valued and included.

And as Harmeen Mehta, our Chief Digital and Innovation Officer, reminded us:

Every person should have a connected and fulfilling life, especially in this increasingly digital world. We are not there yet, but we are on our way. Accessibility ensures belonging because it sends a very clear message. And that is you were thought of, you were included from the start.

Sparking creativity, promoting awareness and nurturing empathy all live at the heart of Hack for Good. Because when accessibility leads, innovation follows.

Accessibility is a core part of how we build our culture and our products at Equinix. From Weslie’s leadership in shaping programs that educate and equip our workforce, to initiatives like our 2025 Hack for Good hackathon that brings together the same workforce to build a more accessible world, we’re proving that inclusion is both a responsibility and an opportunity. The voices of our employees remind us that accessibility is about removing barriers while building new policies, technologies and processes that don’t have those barriers to begin with. We know there’s more work ahead, but every step brings us closer to a workplace and a world where everyone can fully participate and thrive—one we all want to be a part of.