ISSUE 11

THE IMPORTANCE OF

INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIPThe Valuable 500 Global Trends Report

Powered byThis report contains...
01

Executive summary
Identifying the most notable trends in the period March — May 2023

02

Let’s discuss

Discussion on this issue’s topic of interest — The importance of inclusive leadership03

The global view

Analysis of notable moves, changes or developments at a global level04

Regional perspectives
4a. Europe
4b. Asia Pacific
4c. North America
4d. South America
4e. Middle East and Africa

05

Conclusion
Recommendations

2

EXECUTIVE

SUMMARY

Identifying the most notable trends in the
period March — May 2023

KEY TRENDS
01

Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 2023.

02

Representation ‘firsts’.

03

AI–enabled inclusion.

04

Accessible tourism goes global.

05

Inclusive technology enables new experiences.

Businesses celebrated the annual event the right way, by announcing
commitments to improving digital accessibility.

This quarter saw disabled people represented in new ways, from
Vogue’s Disability Issue to Barbie’s first doll with Down syndrome.

We are now witnessing the ways artificial intelligence, such as
ChatGPT, can be used to benefit people with disabilities.

More countries around the world are joining the conversation around
accessible travel, from Greece to Costa Rica and South Korea.

Innovation is making experiences like photography and playing a musicalinstrument available to some disabled people for the first time.

Executive summary

06

Let’s discuss

The global view

Regional perspectives

Conclusion

Big brands challenge perceptions of disability.
From reclaiming the word ‘disability’ to the autism gender gap, leading
brands are helping to raise awareness and challenge stereotypes.

07

New research reveals insights on disabled workers.

08

Social media drives conversations about accessibility.

09

Business leaders speak up about their disabilities.

10

Representation on TV remains a focus.

Businesses like Boston Consulting Group and Mastercard are helping
to bridge the disability data gap with insightful new studies.

People and brands are using platforms like TikTok and Twitter to raiseawareness about accessibility problems and solutions.

Leaders at major organisations are starting to share their experiencesof living with a disability and the importance of inclusive leadership.

TV bosses in Europe and Asia Pacific are helping to maintainscrutiny on the industry to promote disability representation.

4

LET’SDISCUSSThe importance of inclusive leadership

Disability and leadership.
Diversity, inclusion and representation are among the most criticalleadership challenges facing businesses today.
Companies around the world are seeking to include more women, people of colour,and members of the LGBTQ+ community in the boardroom. Indeed, businesses thatfail to prioritise management diversity are increasingly becoming outliers. So why is
it that the diversity discussion almost never includes leaders with disabilities?
Over 1.3 billion, or 16% of the world’s population, lives with a disability, and according
to a study from the Centre for Talent Innovation (CTI) , 30% of white-collar
professionals in the United States are disabled. Yet, despite being the world’s largest
minority group, and the only one that a person could join at any time in life, disability
remains largely underrepresented at the executive level.
Over the last few years, more companies have begun to implement policies focusedon creating inclusive routes into the workforce and improving working cultures andpractices for disabled employees. However, these rarely focus on the inclusion andpromotion of people with disabilities in the senior leadership ranks.

30% of white-collar professionals in the US are disabled.
3% of leaders would speak out openly about their disability / caring role.
46% of employers don’t report on the number of disabled employees.
Sources: World Health Organization, Centre for Talent Innovation (CTI), Heidrick & Struggles, GRiD, Valuable Truth Report 2022

Executive summary

Let’s discuss

The global view

Regional perspectives

Conclusion

In fact, according to a landmark report published by Heidrick & Struggles,
there is a widespread belief among senior executives that there are no people
with disabilities in leadership positions.
One explanation for this is a lack of data, as many diversity reporting metrics
do not include disability. Research involving 501 HR decision makers,
conducted by GRiD, found that almost half (46%) of employers do not reporton the number of people with disabilities they employ. This makes it hard toquantify just how many leaders have a disability.
Another reason is that many business leaders with disabilities have had tohide the existence of their disabilities to succeed at work. Recent researchfrom the Valuable 500 shows that only 3% of leaders would speak out openly
about their disability or caregiving role. So, while disability may technically be
represented at leadership level, it is rarely discussed, highlighted or
championed.
Finally, many senior executives do not have a comprehensive understandingof what it means to be disabled. Definitions of disability vary from country tocountry, and with such a broad range of conditions falling under the umbrellaof disability, many executives do not realise that their colleagues, or indeed
they themselves, may be included underneath it.
As a result, many C-Suite leaders may have never taken the time to think
about the topic of disability at all, let alone how a disability could be an asset
in a leader, or how the company might benefit from more inclusive leadership.
But the arguments for improving representation at leadership level arecompelling, and in 2023, many businesses are already reaping the rewards ofinvesting in disabled leaders.
6Why do we need disabled leaders?
Numerous studies document the value of diversity and inclusion inleadership. In fact, Accenture found that companies that embraced
best practices for employing and supporting people with disabilities
specifically achieved 28% higher revenue, double the net income and30% higher economic profit margins over a four-year period.
However, there has been much less focus on exploring why disability-inclusive
businesses perform better, particularly when it comes to the value of disabled
representation at leadership level.
Unique perspectives and skills
Like other minority groups, employees with disabilities bring unique perspectives
and life experiences to the table. A recent study from the CTI found that threequarters of employees with disabilities report having ideas that would drive value
for their companies, compared to only two-thirds of employees without
disabilities. Many people with disabilities navigate life in a world not designed forthem. As a result, they must devise problem-solving strategies, develop hacks,
find new communication strategies, and demonstrate resilience on a daily basis.
These skills are vital in leadership roles, and consequently people with disabilities
may have unique leadership qualities relative to their non-disabled colleagues.
In addition, as the world becomes more reliant on automation/AI and routinised
jobs are becoming more redundant, the ability of individuals with disabilities tothink outside the box and contribute fresh thinking to their organisations could be
putting them in the forefront of today’s changing nature of work.
Sources: Accenture, CTI, Heidrick & Struggles

Executive summary

Let’s discuss

The global view

Regional perspectives

Conclusion

3/4
employees withdisabilities reporthaving ideas thatwould drive value
for their
companies.

From our interviews and focus groups, we havelearned that people with disabilities are
particularly innovative. In order to navigate theworld with a disability, they have to problemsolve each day.
Julia Taylor Kennedy, Executive Vice President and Directorof Publications, CTI
7

Insight into a growing market

Executive summary

Disabled people understand the needs and experiences of disabled consumers, agroup with an estimated disposable income of US$13 trillion per annum according to
the 2020 Return on Disability Report. That figure is also likely to increase in the
future, as the number of disabled people grows ‘through population growth, medical
advances and the ageing process’ (World Health Organization).

Through this new lens, I
began to rethink makeup
and how we apply it.
Terri Bryant, Guide Beauty Founder

The global view

Regional perspectives

Conclusion

10%of Disability:IN members now have documents
governing the nomination of directors thatmention disability.

In order to impact growth, people with disabilities need to be given the opportunity
to help develop products and services. Companies with disabled leadership cantherefore benefit from valuable insights on solutions targeting an underserved
consumer market.
Make-up artist Terri Bryant started Guide Beauty, a brand that caters to users withall levels of make-up abilities, after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Bryant saw her diagnosis as an opportunity to understand the perspective of people
who struggle to use cosmetics and beauty tools. Us Magazine named Guide Beauty
as one of the best beauty product launches of 2020, and in 2021 they won in the iF
DESIGN AWARD User Experience category, showing that the lived experience ofdisability can be a powerful asset for a business leader.

Let’s discuss

Changing with the times
Ensuring disabled representation at leadership level will also help companies
prepare for a future in which corporate diversity standards are more stringent.
Around the world, businesses are increasingly required to illustrate that they are
working to include people with disabilities. For example, in March 2023 theJapanese government announced that companies will be legally obliged toprovide necessary services and infrastructure to assist people with disabilities
from April 2024. Disabled leaders can help companies adapt to these newrequirements and thus manage risk.
Research also shows there is a growing trend towards improving disabled
representation at leadership level. Disability:IN’s 2022 Disability Equality Index(DEI) revealed that 10% of Disability:IN members surveyed now have documentsthat govern the nomination of board directors that specifically mention disability,
and in April 2023 Lloyds Banking Group became the first UK bank to announce a
public goal to increase the representation of senior colleagues with disabilities in
the workplace, from 6% to 12%. This suggests that companies that fail to adapt
now may risk falling behind their peers.

Sources: 2020 Return on Disability Report, World Health Organization, PA Consulting, Japan Times, 2022 Disability Equality Index, Lloyds Banking Group8

Improving employee engagement“You cannot be what you cannot see” is a commonly cited reason for increasing
representation at the top of organisations. When employees with disabilities see
disabled leaders succeeding and sharing their experiences, it can have a profound
impact on their engagement.
People with disabilities report lower levels of inclusion in the workplace relative totheir colleagues without disabilities. According to Boston Consulting Group (BCG)’s
BLISS (Bias-Free, Leadership, Inclusion, Safety and Support) Index, which measures
feelings of inclusion, the average score for disabled people is 3 points lower than the
average score for those without a disability or health condition.
These findings matter because lower feelings of inclusion are correlated with higher
attrition. Improving an employee’s feelings of inclusion increases the likelihood thatthey will stay with the organisation. In today’s environment of low unemployment andcostly hiring and training, the economic impact on organisations can be substantial.
But disabled representation at leadership level can help to improve theseengagement rates.

Executive summary

Let’s discuss

The global view

Regional perspectives

Conclusion

Steve Ingham, who was CEO of PageGroup from2006 to 2022, was the only CEO in the FTSE 250 todisclose a disability. Following a skiing accident in
2019, in which he was paralysed, Steve recorded avideo message explaining the situation to his
employees and realised that his lived experience ofdisability actually strengthened him as a leader,saying “far from lowering my respect in thebusiness, it was actually raising it”. Steve is now
using his platform to champion changes in the UK
workplace to help others with disabilities.
Similarly, when EY’s Julie Linn Teigland shared that she is partially deaf,
she noticed the immediate positive change it created within the company’s
culture. Julie’s openness about her own disability encouraged colleagues withdisabilities to be more transparent about their own experience, helping tofoster a more inclusive working environment across the organisation.

In the past, I have shared my own experience with EY
teams, and I found that voluntarily coming forward
makes a huge difference. That transparency createsa recognition that 'we see you' and that you belong.
Julie Linn Teigland, EMEIA Area Managing Partner, EY

Sources: Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the Valuable 500, Forbes

9How can businesses improve
leadership representation?

Executive summary

Let’s discuss

The global view

Regional perspectives

Conclusion

There are many ways in which businesses can bolster inclusive
leadership within their own organisations and the wider businessecosystem.
Sharing stories
Leaders who self-identify and speak up about their experience can provide positiverole models for other aspiring leaders with disabilities and help to break down
negative connotations about disability in the workplace. When leaders are open
about their disabilities, it can also help to influence business strategies, shapepolicies and promote safe spaces for disabled employees to thrive.
Recently, Jun Sawada, Chairman of the board of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone(NTT), talked publicly about his experience of keratoconus, an eye condition whichcauses irregularities in the corneas that result in vision loss.

It is important that conveners inpositions of power should look forways to address these issues andsupport the disabled population.
Jun Sawada, Chairman of the Board, NTT

Sources: Nikkei

OriHime-D robots deliver drinks in a cafe: NTT uses the robots to enable seamless remote communication
to facilitate flexible working and support staff with disabilities © Reuters

NTT is now working with disabled employees who, because of the company’s
inclusive culture, feel confident contributing to business growth.
The company has introduced a new communications initiative called IOWN,
incorporating an innovative robot that enables seamless remote communication
to facilitate flexible working and support staff with disabilities.
Such initiatives demonstrate the tangible impact of disabled leaders sharing
their own experiences.
10

Bringing in new perspectives

Executive summary

Let’s discuss

The global view

Regional perspectives

Conclusion

Many companies have achieved strategic success by actively appointing disabled
people to leadership positions. These leaders bring new perspectives, expertise,and experience to the company’s management structure.
Sam Latif, who is blind, currently serves as P&G’s Accessibility Leader, a position
that was created for her. In her 21 years at the company, Sam has worked onsome of the most impactful examples of accessible beauty product design: Olay's
new Easy Open Lids and, for blind and low-vision consumers, Herbal
Essences' tactile markers and Clearblue's Be My Eyes app (through which
pregnancy results can be read to consumers).
Since hiring Sam, P&G has become a leader in inclusive design, demonstrating
just how impactful it can be to invest in disabled leaders.

When we've interviewed consumers
like me, we've found that they felt
the beauty industry didn't reallyreach out to them. So, one version
of a day is just talking to consumers
with disabilities: 'What are some of
the frustrations that you've got?'That way I can understand how tobring those to P&G to meet theirneeds.

Other companies have found success via different leadership models. In 2021,
L’Oréal launched its Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Advisory Board,assembling a diverse group of external experts and members of the company’s
leadership to foster open discussion on how to strengthen L’Oréal‘scommitments and contribute to its action plan.
Earlier this year, L’Oréal launched a handheld, computerised lipstick applicator
called ‘Hapta’, designed for people with limited hand and arm mobility. This was
the first product of its kind from a major cosmetics company, illustrating how
inclusive leadership can help to drive innovation.

Sam Latif, Accessibility Leader, P&G
Sources: Packaging Europe, L’Oréal, Women’s Health11

Mentoring the next generation

Executive summary

Let’s discuss

The global view

Regional perspectives

Conclusion

Research shows that marginalised talent often faces systemic barriers to promotion.
However, mentorship can transform the experience of disabled people in theworkplace: improving engagement, increasing retention, and helping people performbetter in their current role and progress in their careers.
Mentoring creates a virtuous cycle: nurturing a pool of leaders with disabilities who
can share their experiences, advocate for other employees with disabilities, serve as
examples of success to more junior colleagues, and act as mentors to future
generations. BCG found that the BLISS Index score for mentored people withdisabilities is nearly 8 points higher than that of disabled employees without a mentor.
This is in stark contrast to the average score for people with disabilities, which is 3
points lower than that of non-disabled employees, proving how impactful mentoring
can be.

Sources: Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the Valuable 500

Programmes such as the Valuable 500’s ‘Generation Valuable’ aim to address
the gap in disability talent, at all levels, by creating an opportunity for leadersfrom Valuable 500 companies to receive training provided by some of theworld’s leading disability inclusion and leadership development experts, as wellas an internal executive mentor. The initiative aims to help chart new pathways
to C-Suite level for disabled people and has so far enlisted a full Year 1 cohort,made up of 75 of the world’s largest businesses from every continent.

12Supporting disabled entrepreneurs

Executive summary

Large companies can help to improve leadership representation by supporting
entrepreneurs with disabilities via investment and incubation. According to a newreport from Small Business Britain, supported by Lloyds Bank, disabled
entrepreneurs face significant barriers to start and grow businesses and major
systemic changes are needed to make entrepreneurship more equitable,
accessible, and inclusive for disabled founders.

Santen, in partnership with One Young
World, launched the Lead2030 Challenge
on “Closing the Disability Employment
Gap.” They invited applications from young
innovators who are working onsustainable, market-ready, and scalable
solutions that have demonstrated
meaningful impact for the employability ofpeople with disabilities. The winner of thechallenge was Bonny Dave, the founder ofTrestle Labs — an assistive technology
company that enables schools andworkplaces to be digitally inclusive.

The ‘Disability and Entrepreneurship report’ — which consulted over 500 disabled
and neurodiverse founders across the UK — revealed an abundance of inbuilt
entrepreneurial skill and ambition among this cohort, with 35% saying theirdisability has positively impacted them as an entrepreneur.

My success didn't come despite mychallenge — it came because of it. Being
faced with adversity caused me to build
strong muscles in the three most criticalskills of entrepreneurship: resilience,
unconventional thinking and empathy.
Zach Cutler, VC-Backed Tech FounderSources: Small Business Britain, Entrepreneur.com, One Young World, Sifted

Let’s discuss

The global view

Regional perspectives

Conclusion

However, significant hurdles are holding founders back, including higher startup costs and challenges accessing funding, as well as a lack of support fromwider society.
A new report by the campaign group Access2Funding found that 84% of
disabled entrepreneurs believe they don’t have equal access to the same
opportunities and resources as non-disabled entrepreneurs.
The report also highlighted the loss to the investment ecosystem, stating thatinvestors are missing out on an estimated £500m in annual returns by notbacking these entrepreneurs.
This issue is not unique to the UK, and prevents disabled entrepreneurs
worldwide from scaling their businesses effectively. However, large companies
have an opportunity and a responsibility to invest in disabled-led companies, inorder to help create the next generation of leaders with disabilities.
13

THE

GLOBAL VIEW
Analysis of notable moves,changes or development at
a global level

01

Global Accessibility Awareness Day(GAAD) 2023.

Executive summary

GAAD, celebrated annually on the third Thursday in May,
serves to raise awareness of the importance of digital accessand inclusion for over one billion people who live withdisabilities globally.

Annual celebrations like GAAD are a vital way to raise awareness of thisimportant issue, as many websites and digital platforms remain inaccessible topeople with disabilities.

Thursday, May 18, 2023 marked the 12th Global Accessibility Awareness Day. ‘Keeping
technology accessible for everyone’ was the key theme of GAAD 2023, and in an era
when technology impacts almost every aspect of our lives, this message has neverbeen more important.

Let’s discuss

The global view

Regional perspectives

Conclusion

In 2020, WebAIM analysed one million home pages for accessibility issues andfound that 98.1% had at least one WCAG 2.0 failure and the average number of
errors per home page was 60.9.

However, analysis of Google Trends data from December 2021 — June 2023 showsthat interest in GAAD worldwide has declined since last year. In 2022 ‘GAAD’ reacheda value of 100 — the peak popularity for a term — whereas in 2023, the term only
reached a value of 90:
May 15 — 21 2022

May 14 — 20 2023

But governments around the world are introducing new legislation to improve
digital accessibility. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a law designed tocreate equal access for Europeans with disabilities by requiring a mix ofproducts and services to be accessible, replacing a patchwork of different
rules with standardised accessibility requirements. Each country’s EAA laws
must come into force on June 28, 2025, so companies must act now to ensure
their digital products and services are compliant ahead of the deadline.
Sources: Google Trends, Global Accessibility Awareness Day, TPGi

15

•
01

GAAD 2023 (continued).

Executive summary

Let’s discuss

The global view

Regional perspectives

Conclusion

P&G

Businesses can play a major role in advocating for digitalaccessibility by celebrating GAAD annually and using theopportunity to commit to improving the accessibility of theirproducts and services for disabled people.
AirbnbOn May 18, Airbnb announced that it has now reviewed and confirmed the accuracy ofalmost 300,000 accessibility features in homes around the world. Introduced in
November 2021, Accessibility Review gives guests the peace of mind thataccessibility features added by Hosts have been reviewed and confirmed by Airbnb
agents. Since its launch, the number of listings with an accessibility feature on
Airbnb has increased by over 450% to over 140,000 places to stay.
Airbnb also launched the Adapted category this year, a curated list of spaces that
include verified accessibility features. The category now boasts over 1,100 listings
across the globe, with Hosts earning over $8.2 million AUD since launch.

...

-~·-

In their latest initiative — Reset the Bar in Advertising Accessibility — P&G havepartnered with the World Federation of Advertisers, media owners, TV sales
houses and other key industry partners to promote progress towards 100%advertising accessibility across Europe by 2025.
For GAAD, P&G shared that across all its channels, including e-commerce sites,
the company is ensuring alt-text and video descriptions are built in. P&G also
shared how it is acting with its brands to improve digital accessibility:
Oral-B has made its site more accessible through a mouse, keyboard, and• (Q)ir1IDil-lB
screen reader, significantly enhancing the experience for low-vision,
blind and neurodivergent consumers.
IPlfillliTil[Plceirl§ has updated its sites to ensure colour-blind people have equal• Pampers
access to essential information.

ph&faxBrands such as oral-B
are making their websites
accessible through a mouse,keyboard, and screen reader.

ph&faxph&fax

Sources: Airbnb, P&G

Pampers updated theirwebsites to meet color
contrast requirements.

ph&faxph&faxWe are continuously working
to del~ver an inclusive,
accessible, and superior
experience for all.

ph&faxph&fax16

01

GAAD 2023 (continued).

Executive summary

For GAAD 2023, many well-known companies announced newaccessible products and features to improve the user
experience for their disabled consumers.

GoogleMicrosoftLet’s discuss

The global view

Regional perspectives

Conclusion

Google released updates to its existing live captioning feature, extending thecapability to tablets. In addition, Google is adding a Q&A feature in Lookout,
alt-text and allows the user towhich aims to identify and describe images with alt
ask questions about the image.

Microsoft announced a variety of initiatives, such as
ongoing accessibility support with video games and an
update to the accessibility features on its Office suite,which will now include enhanced narrator support for Excel
and a new and improved accessibility ribbon for Mac andPC.
The company also announced an update to its longlongstanding partnership with Be My Eyes,, a smartphone app
for blind and low vision users. Microsoft aims to takecustomer support to the next level by launching a new pilot
programme to add GPT-4-powered functionality to its
Disability Answer Desk.
Apple
DisneyDisney and ESPN are bringing their Real-Time AutomatedSpeech Recognition (ASR) to more of their programming.
This will improve captions for real-time events like sports, live
TV and news. Of their events captioned using ASR in the past
year, they have seen a 97% caption accuracy rate.
Sources: Usable Net, Microsoft, Be My Eyes, 9 to 5 Google, Mobile Syrup

Apple unveiled several upcoming accessibility
features, including a detection mode that uses thecamera to help identify physical, real-world objects,
live speech that allows users to text what they wantto say and have it read aloud in their voice, and a newassistive access feature that helps people
with cognitive disabilities navigate apps better.
17

02

Mattel launches Barbie with Down
syndrome.

Executive summary

Let’s discuss

The global view

Regional perspectives

Conclusion

Barbie is launching its first doll with Down syndrome to enable
more children to find a toy that represents them.
The company partnered with medical experts and the National Down Syndrome
Society (NDSS) in the US to inform the design process of the new doll, introducing a
new face and body sculpt to be more illustrative of women with Down syndrome,
including a shorter frame and a longer torso.
Part of its Fashionistas range, which includes dolls who use wheelchairs, prosthetic
limbs, and hearing aids, this doll is the first to represent someone with a learning
disability.
The doll’s necklace, featuring three upward chevrons, represents the three copies ofthe 21st chromosome, which is the genetic material that causes the characteristics
associated with Down syndrome. The doll’s dress pattern also features butterfliesand yellow and blue colours, which are associated with Down syndrome awareness.
Mattel bosses said they wanted to develop the doll to “enable all children to seethemselves in Barbie” and the move was widely praised by charities. Ellie Goldstein, aBritish model with Down syndrome who appears in an advertising campaign for the
new Barbie, also said she was happy to see the doll, commenting “diversity isimportant to me as people need to see more people like me out there in the world andnot be hidden away.”
However, reception to the doll’s launch has been mixed, with some people expressing
the view that Mattel could have gone even further with the design, in order to moreaccurately represent people with Down syndrome.
Sources: The Guardian, Sky News, National Review

This means so much forour community, who for
the first time can playwith a Barbie doll thatlooks like them.
Kandi Pickard, Chief Executive
and President, NDSS

18

03

ChatGPT empowers people withdisabilities.

Executive summary

Let’s discuss

The global view

Regional perspectives

Conclusion

Artificial intelligence (AI) is now transforming our world andhaving a significant impact on the lives of people withdisabilities.

AI can help remove many of the barriers disabled people face in their daily
lives. As the technology continues to improve, we can expect to see evenmore innovative ways that ChatGPT can be used to improve accessibility andinclusion for all.

AI-driven programmes such as ChatGPT are beginning to provide solutions fordisabled people: helping to bridge communication gaps, facilitate access to
information and foster independence.

However, the chatbot has already been banned by many education providers
and more than 6,000 teachers from universities including Harvard and Yale
have signed up to use GPTZero, a programme that claims to detect AIgenerated text.

Some of the ways AI is capable of supporting people with disabilities are:• Enhancing communication: AI chatbots can significantly aid communication
for people with hearing or speech disabilities, by converting speech to text andvice versa, allowing users to engage in conversations and participate in social
interactions they may have otherwise found challenging.
• Reading and writing assistance: By reading aloud text-based content orproviding writing suggestions, ChatGPT can help users with dyslexia compose
emails, essays and other documents with greater ease and efficiency.
• Supporting education: By answering questions, providing explanations andoffering alternative learning materials, ChatGPT can serve as an invaluable
resource for learners who may require additional support or accommodations.
One of the most significant benefits of ChatGPT for people with disabilities is its
ability to understand and respond to natural language queries. For people who havedifficulty typing or using a keyboard, the chatbot offers a more accessible way tointeract with technology.
Sources: Entrepreneur, CS Monitor, LinkedIn

At present, AI isn’t perfect but it has already demonstrated positive use cases
for the disabled community. As ChatGPT stirs debate over the use oftechnology and AI in education, disabled students and educators have said
the benefits should not be overlooked in a rush to regulate.

We shouldn’t assume the technology is bad.
We need to move quickly and put inplace strong policies and protections
for educators and students.
Leslie Loble, Professor at the University of Technology,
Sydney19

08

Rare Beauty sparks criticalconversation about inclusivity.
A series of TikTok videos about Selena Gomez’s makeup line
has started an online discussion about the beauty industry’s
lack of inclusivity.
When someone posted a video on TikTok saying that Rare Beauty’s liquid blush, aproduct from Selena Gomez’s makeup line, “sucks” because it “gets everywhere”
when you open it, Christen Roos decided to share how much the packaging means
to her as someone with short arms. Unlike other makeup products that have
gripless handles, this particular blush has a circular lid that makes it easy to twist.
Christen’s reaction video got nearly 15 million views and sparked a criticalconversation around inclusivity in the beauty industry. Other people withdisabilities, ranging from visual impairments to rheumatoid arthritis and limb
difference, have also noticed Rare Beauty’s accessibility and have used TikTok to
advocate for its unique features. Some products have a matte finish for better grip,
flat edges to prevent rolling, and easy-to-press buttons with pop-up features.

Executive summary

Let’s discuss

The global view

Regional perspectives

Conclusion

I’m always surprised
when something iseasy to open, but itshould all be easy to
open. So when Ibought this Rare
Beauty blush, I wasamazed.
Christen Roos

A statement on Rare Beauty’s website notes that its products are “designed toSelena's personal preferences to emphasise ease of use”. Selena Gomez has lupus— an autoimmune disease that tricks the immune system into attacking itself — soshe often experiences muscle weakness, shaky hands, and other mobility issues.
Influencer Mariadeliz Santiago, who has Schnizel syndrome, says that other thanRare Beauty, she’s not aware of any other mainstream makeup brands prioritisingaccessibility, but she hopes that the company will set a new standard in theindustry, and lead to more affordable drugstore products on the market for people
with disabilities.
Sources: Buzzfeed

20

07

Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
publishes Diversity, Equity andInclusion report.
The report, entitled ‘Your Workforce Includes People with
Disabilities. Does Your People Strategy?’ analyses survey datafrom 28,000 employees in 16 countries.
Most organisations say their workforce includes relatively few people withdisabilities: just 4% to 7%. But in BCG’s survey, some 25% of people said they have adisability or health condition that limits a major life activity. The survey found that:• Employees with disabilities significantly under-disclose to their employers, soorganisations are missing out on helping employees with disabilities bring theirfull selves to work. However, employers can increase feelings of inclusion bymaking employees comfortable disclosing their disability.
• Organisations can foster greater feelings of inclusion for disabled people byproviding employee-centric policies and programmes, mentorship, andreasonable accommodations.

Executive summary

Let’s discuss

The global view

Regional perspectives

Conclusion

Unsurprisingly, disabled people report lower levels of inclusion in the workplace
relative to their colleagues without disabilities: the average BLISS Index score
for people with disabilities is 3 points lower than the average score for those
without a disability or health condition. These findings hold true across thecountries included in the research.
Beyond differences in BLISS Index scores, the survey also found that disabled
people are having a more negative work experience than their non-disabledpeers.

Compared to non-disabled people, people withdisabilities are:

6 percentage points less likely to indicate thatthey are happy at work.

15 percentage points more likely to say thatwork negatively impacts their mental and physical wellbeing, and their

BCG’s BLISS (Bias-Free, Leadership, Inclusion, Safety, and Support) Index provides
a quantitative window to understand the workplace experience of employees withdisabilities. The Index provides a single, comprehensive score that reflects feelingsof inclusion. Scores range from 1 to 100 and are based on rigorous statisticalmodelling.

Sources: BCG

relationships with friends and family.

1.5 times more likely to have experienced discrimination attheir organisation.
21

REGIONALPERSPECTIVES
Europe | Asia Pacific | North America
South America | Middle East and Africa

Regional perspectives
North America
Big brands have made important commitments toinclusion in the areas of representation andtechnology, while new research continues theconversation on accessible travel.

Executive summary

Let’s discuss

The global view

Regional perspectives

Conclusion

EuropeBrands are making bold moves to improvedisability representation in fashion, challenge
stereotypes of neurodiversity and raise awarenessaround accessibility.

Asia PacificTechnology is in development toprovide people with disabilities more
independence, while research andactivism continue to push for disability
inclusion in society.

South America
Accessible travel and tourism has
been a big focus in the region, driven
by technology and partnerships
between government and business.

Middle East & Africa
Research and outreach programmes aim tosupport disabled entrepreneurs in Africa, whiledevelopments in the Middle East aim to create
truly accessible experiences.
23

EuropeHiring trends• This quarter has seen an increase in the number ofaccessibility roles advertised across the region. Manyof these roles were focused on user experience (UX),suggesting that businesses are looking to improve theexperience for people with disabilities on their digitalplatforms.
• There has also been a noticeable increase in entrylevel roles in accessibility departments, including
specialist apprenticeships and internships. This
indicates that companies are looking to invest for the
future and build internal capabilities for accessible
design.
• A number of organisations advertised roles for project
managers, indicating the potential for plans to runlarge-scale diversity and inclusion projects in the
future.

Executive summary

Let’s discuss

The global view

Regional perspectives

Conclusion

Sample of diversity, inclusion, accessibility and ESG roles posted on
LinkedIn (March — May 2023)

UX Manager (Accessibility
Specialist)
Publicis Sapient(UK)

Digital Accessibility Specialist
Apprentice
Atos
(UK)

Customer Accessibility &Inclusion Manager
National Express(UK, Hybrid)

Equality, Diversity andInclusion Senior Manager
The Football Association(UK)

Project Manager Internship(Office of Accessibility)
Salesforce(Spain)Internship Global Diversity &Inclusion
Hugo Boss(Germany)
25

02

British Vogue publishes first
Disability Issue.
The May issue, titled ‘Reframing Fashion’, focuses on disability
justice, accessibility and pride. It features 5 disabled cover stars
and 19 disabled people in total from fashion, sport, and the arts.
The magazine’s cover stars include actress Selma Blair, who has multiple sclerosis,
and model Ellie Goldstein, who has Down syndrome. The May issue also features
Sinéad Burke, who runs accessibility consultancy Tilting the Lens, as a contributing
editor and cover star.

Executive summary

Let’s discuss

The global view

Regional perspectives

Conclusion

British Vogue Editor-in-Chief, Edward Enninful has said working on the issue
was one of the “proudest moments of my career”. He revealed last year in his
memoir that he has visual and hearing impairments and a blood disorder, which
he said present "challenges" in his role but also meant he was able to relate tothis issue’s contributors.
Edward said a big part of shooting this Vogue campaign involved making those
involved feel like there was a place in the fashion industry for them.
The commitment to inclusivity also went beyond representation, as British
Vogue released a braille edition of the magazine for the first time in its 107-year
history and the May issue has been made available in audio format to make it
accessible to blind and visually impaired people.

Other contributors to the new edition include racing driver Nicolas Hamilton andcomedian Rosie Jones, who both have cerebral palsy, and Justina Miles, who is Deafand was the sign language interpreter at Rihanna's 2023 Super Bowl half-time show.

Disability should feel personal to us all. Some 16 million
people in the UK are Disabled, with millions more Disabledadjacent, whether visibly or invisibly. The time has come for
us to get real about who we are as a society, and for fashion
to build a better, more accessible and inclusive industry.
Edward Enninful, Editor-in-Chief,
British Vogue

Sources: The Guardian, Vogue Letter from the Editor, Vogue, BBC

26

06

Vanish Reckitt wins Channel 4
Diversity in Advertising Award.
The new Vanish ad, ‘Me, My Autism and I’ was created by Havas
London with support from Ambitious about Autism.

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The global view

Regional perspectives

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Launching during World Autism Acceptance Week, the wide-ranging campaign
also included a £100k social content series produced by Channel 4’s digitalcontent team 4Studio, an exhibition on London’s South Bank, a social campaign,
an online hub telling other autistic girls’ stories, a research and talent-backed
PR activation, and direct financial support to Ambitious about Autism.

The brief for this year’s Diversity In Advertising Award, which offers advertisers andagencies the opportunity to win £1 million worth of commercial airtime on
Channel 4, encouraged brands to tackle the ongoing lack of authentic portrayal
and representation of visible or non-visible disabilities. New Channel 4 insightrevealed that only 4% of TV adverts in the UK feature disabled people, compared to
22% of the UK population who are disabled.
Vanish’s winning campaign shines a light on the gender gap in autism diagnoses tocelebrate and support autistic girls. According to Ambitious about Autism, autistic
girls are three times less likely to receive a diagnosis than boys, and diagnosis for aquarter of girls takes two years or longer.
New research from Vanish and Ambitious about Autism further reveals that 92% ofautistic people are affected by sensory sensitivity, 73% use clothes to help regulate
their senses, and 75% say keeping the look, smell and feel of clothes the same isimportant. Wearing familiar clothing directly affects the mood of 81% of autistic
people, and an attachment to clothing was a factor that led over a third (34%) ofautistic people to think they might be autistic.
The docudrama film shot by Oscar-winning director Tom Hooper follows a day in thelife of 15-year-old autistic girl Ash, cast alongside her real family and best friends,
and her elemental relationship with her favourite hoodie. Supporting the campaign
through PR is model and author, Christine McGuinness, who unveils her own musthave clothing item — a grey hoodie.
Sources: Channel 4, Ambitious about Autism, Ambitious about Autism and Vanish, 2023, YouTube

27

04

Greece is making more than 280
beaches wheelchair accessible.

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One of Europe’s most popular holiday destinations is becoming
more inclusive for people with disabilities.
The Greek islands welcome more than 33 million tourists every year, and in a bid to
encourage more disabled travellers to the country, Greece’s Tourism Minister, Vassilis
Kikilias has announced a new initiative to make a total of 287 beaches fully accessible
to people with mobility disabilities.
220 of these beaches will be accessible by the summer of 2023, following a project(rumoured to have cost over US$15 million) which involves installing the SEATRAC
system.
SEATRAC founder Gerasimos Fessian lives by the sea in Greece, but has always had
problems getting in and out of the water due to his disability. He began researchingpotential solutions with Ignatios Fotiou, CEO of TOBEA (Thinking Out of the Box
Engineering Applications). They discovered that barely any devices existed toprovide seaside support, giving them the opportunity to fulfil unmet needs. The
prototype for the system was created in 2009 and commercialised in 2012.
The SEATRAC system operates with a remote control, lowering users into the waterwith a chair along a moveable track. Once in the water, a handrail allows users todisembark the chair and swim in the water. The system can be installed on different
types of terrain, from sand to rocky beaches.
In addition to the SEATRAC launch, the company has introduced an “accessibility
chain” on any beaches using the system. This means disabled beachgoers will haveaccess to parking, walkways, accessible changing rooms, toilets, and shaded areas.
Sources: CN Traveler, Mirror

All beaches around the world should befully accessible so that everyone is free toenjoy the sea independently and safely.
Ignatios Fotiou, CEO,
TOBEA
28

08

Specsavers criticises new alt-text
joke trend.

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Regional perspectives

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The eyecare brand has spoken out against Twitter’s new joke
picture trend as it misuses accessibility features.
On Twitter, people have been posting an image which simply reads "click here", on awhite background, with an arrow to where the image ALT text can be accessed.
However, instead of a description, there is a joke or a punchline to the tweet.
Alternative text, known as ALT text, is designed to provide visually impaired users
with a description of the image, which can be used in collaboration with accessibility
features like screen readers.
Specsavers criticised this trend, tweeting their own version of the meme. In the ALT
text, Specsavers wrote:"The image says ‘click here’ with an arrow pointing to the ALT description tag inthe bottom left corner. Side note for everybody: Many Twitter users, including
brands, have been using this to prompt people to open the ALT text, where they
have left a joke.
ALT text is a hugely important accessibility tool designed to help people
navigate the internet more easily, so it shouldn't be used as a punchline. This isespecially true if the ALT text doesn't describe the image, leaving blind andvisually impaired people out of the joke.”

Responding to Specsavers, the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) wrote"Exactly this. Thanks for reminding everyone”, while other Twitter users praised thebrand for highlighting the importance of alternative text for disabled people.
Sources: Mirror, Yahoo News, Twitter

29

ASIA

PACIFICHiring trends• Organisations across the region were advertising roles forsenior diversity and inclusion advisors/consultants,
indicating an increased focus on policy and compliance.
• The prevalence of accessibility roles decreased
dramatically compared with last quarter, especially in
India, where the number of accessibility roles advertised
usually outweighs positions in diversity and inclusion
departments.
• More roles were advertised as remote or hybrid, as
opposed to onsite. This may reflect the regional trend
noted in last quarter’s Issue towards more flexible working
arrangements, particularly in Japan.

Executive summary

Let’s discuss

The global view

Regional perspectives

Conclusion

Sample of diversity, inclusion, accessibility and ESG roles posted on
LinkedIn (March — May 2023)

Inclusion Specialist – People
and Inclusion
KPMG Australia(Australia, Remote)Policy Advisor – Inclusion,
Diversity and Talent
Insurance Council of Australia(Australia, Hybrid)

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Manager
Specialized Group(Japan)Director of Diversity, Equity
and Inclusion
Reinsurance Group of America(Hong Kong)

India Gender Consultant
International FinanceCorporation(India)Head – ESGMichael Page
(India)31

05

Zelda, the virtual assistant who
speaks Auslan, in development.
The Auslan Communication Technology Pipeline is aiming tocreate a virtual assistant named Zelda that recognises andspeaks Auslan (Australian sign language).

Executive summary

Let’s discuss

The global view

Regional perspectives

Conclusion

But the team is confident that once the product is ready, there will be people
ready and willing to use it. Julie Lyons, a Deaf research assistant on the projectcommented, "A lot of Deaf participants that we interviewed were really keen tobuy this type of product and that's because they want to become more
independent”.

The visual interface will allow users to sign to it with a question or command and havethe device understand and come back with a response.
The project is being driven by Jessica Korte, a technology design academic at the
University of Queensland. Korte says the team began the project by interviewing
D/deaf people "to make sure we're designing a technology they actually want to use in
a way that they actually want to use it".
D/deaf participants in the research phase were able to add new features based on
their experiences, such as doorbell notifications and alerts for certain sounds like car
alarms and babies crying. Interviewees said that they currently rely on family orneighbours for this kind of information.
It's not the first time people have tried to develop technology to help better connect
hearing and D/deaf people. But often those attempts have been driven by
assumptions about what D/deaf people want, says Adele Greedy-Vogel, a research
assistant on the project who is a hearing child of Deaf adults. She feels that a lot oftechnology in the space is designed so that hearing people can understand D/deaf
people, but that the emphasis needs to change so that D/deaf people are given moreaccess.
In terms of timing, the team expects to have a "minimum viable product" later thisyear. Something that's more user friendly is still several years away.
Sources: ABC News

Jessica Korte leads the Auslan
Communication Technology Pipeline.
Zelda makes the Auslan sign for "name".

It’s very important for Deaf people toaccess Auslan because Auslan is ournative language.
Julie Lyons,Research Assistant

32

03

AI suitcase prototype developed forblind and visually impaired
travellers.

Executive summary

Let’s discuss

The global view

Regional perspectives

Conclusion

Researchers in Japan have developed navigation suitcases
using artificial intelligence (AI) to help visually impaired people
get to their destinations safely.
Dr Chieko Asakawa, who is blind, is the Chief Executive Director of the Japanese
National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. She came up with the idea
for the AI suitcase when her luggage hit a wall at an airport and she realised thatsuitcases could be used as a tool to detect obstacles.
Chieko then worked with several companies, as well as universities and otherorganisations, to make the prototype, which operates at a walking speed of an adult,
and is equipped with cameras and sensors that detect obstacles or people nearby.
The suitcase also includes voice guidance on the location and the user’s
surroundings, helping people with visual impairments to navigate more effectively.
A survey by the Japanese Ophthalmological Society shows that the total number ofblind people in Japan has reached about 1.64 million and it’s estimated that themarket for assistive devices will reach US$6 billion in Japan by 2025.
One of the next steps for the prototype will be getting it to work in crowded
environments. In the future, the suitcase will also be equipped with facialrecognition technology, to help users recognise acquaintances as they approach.
The ultimate goal is to make it possible for blind travellers using the AI suitcase to
move around airports safely and efficiently.
Sources: Sky News, Yahoo Life

I hope to use the AI suitcase to travel by myself
so I can visit friends around the world.
Dr Chieko Asakawa, Chief Executive Director,
the Japanese National Museum of
Emerging Science and Innovation

33

10

Disabled representation on
Australian screens still “criticallylow”.

Executive summary

Let’s discuss

3.6%

The report shows there have been increases in the levels of diversity on screen since2016, including more representation of First Nations people, which increased from
4.8% to 7.2%.

2016

In 2016, just 10% of Australian programmes featured a disabled character, but that has
improved to 29% in 2023.
Screen Australia's CEO Graeme Mason said the results in the report were encouraging,but the work to improve diversity on Australian screens was not yet finished.
Sources: ABC News, Screen Australia

Conclusion

6.6%

Screen Australia’s Seeing Ourselves report, released in April 2023, is a follow-up to a2016 study looking at the diversity of main characters in more than 360 Australian TV
shows.

Disabled representation on screen rose from 3.6% to 6.6% overall, but remains well
below levels in the Australian population, which stand at around 18% of people withsome form of disability.

Regional perspectives

Disabled representation on Australian TV

According to a new report, diversity in Australian television has
improved but the industry still has more work to do when it
comes to representation of disabled people.

However, the report noted representation of disabled people remains "critically low"
and overall representation of diverse communities on TV remains below the levels in
the general population.

The global view

2023

29%
of programmes
in 2023 feature adisabledcharacter.
SBS show Latecomers centres on two characters with cerebral palsy.

34

04

Disability rights activists stage
protests on Seoul subway network.

Executive summary

Let’s discuss

The global view

Regional perspectives

Conclusion

Protesters are demanding an increase in funding for mobility
provisions and the installation of lifts at all stations to make the
network accessible for wheelchair users.
Disabled people have been protesting on the subway network during the morning
rush hour, blocking entry to trains and disrupting major lines. They say they are tiredof being denied access to parts of the system.
Currently, only 19 out of 275 stations in the city (7%) are without lift access, according
to Seoul Metro. But activists say it's not just about the numbers — they say theapproach taken by authorities to the protests reveals the misconceptions
surrounding disability in South Korea.
Seoul's mayor, Oh Se-hoon, has vowed "zero tolerance" towards the protests. In a
Facebook post, he wrote, "I can no longer overlook the damage and inconvenience
inflicted on ordinary citizens.” However, disabled protesters say the language used by
the mayor proves their point because they are not considered "ordinary citizens”.
Others, such as wheelchair user Jimin Hong, feel the protests are necessary to force
a conversation about disability. She said “In South Korean society right now, you
don't see disabled people enough. Our life has always been stuck at home. We give up
on going to places even if we really want to go. [But] we want to show the world that
we exist.”
In 2015 Jimin, and her mother Yunhui founded Muui, a social venture that has createdover 1,000 interactive maps that show accessibility across Seoul.
Sources: BBC News, Yonhap News Agency

I understand this is a frustrating situation forcommuters. But we've been shouting like this for over
20 years and we still haven't got the same rights.
Park Kyoung-seok,
Disability rights activist
35

NORTHAMERICAH
Hiringtrends• There was a marked decline in the number of diversity,
inclusion and accessibility roles advertised across North
America, which reflects the trend highlighted in lastquarter’s Issue that hiring has decreased across theregion. This is expected to decrease further as we
progress into 2023 and economic uncertainty persists.
• The majority of roles posted were in the health sector,
indicating that for certain industries, investing indiversity and inclusion remains a focus.
• There was a lack of accessibility roles on offer acrossthe region, with most employers focusing on ESG hiring.

Executive ssu
ummaryLet’s dis
discuscusss

The gloglobal view

Regional perspectives

Conc
Con
clusi
lusionon

Sample of diversity, inclusion, accessibility and ESG roles posted on
LinkedIn (March — May 2023)

Diversity Program Director
Elevance Health(Florida)

Director of DEI and Belonging
LifeLong Medical Care
(California)

Social Impact Specialist
Kia America(California)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Data Analyst
CommonSpirit Health(Kentucky)

Senior Manager, Inclusion,
Diversity, Equity andAccessibility
Diabetes Canada(Toronto)

Manager, Environmental,
Social and Governance – ESG
Randstad Canada(Toronto)
37

06

Nike rebrands employee network.

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The brand announced it would be rebranding its employee
network to reclaim the word ‘disability’.
In a LinkedIn post for Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 2023, Nike shared
its decision to change the name of its NikeUNITED employee network from the‘Ability Network’ to the ‘Disability Network’.
As one of eight NikeUNITED Employee Networks, the Disability Network seeks toempower a culture of belonging while championing universal inclusion andaccessibility for the wellbeing and success of all.
The brand stated the aim of the rebrand was to reclaim the word ‘disability’ as asource of “strength, diversity and insight, and a core part of our culture of belonging
and innovation”.
Nike also published a short film featuring Nike employees and network members ,sharing how the renaming is empowering them to “boldly share who they are”. The
film features audio description, captions and sign-language interpretation
throughout to ensure it is fully accessible to people with disabilities.
When Nike launched the FlyEase trainer in 2021, it was criticised by some within the
disabled community for not explicitly mentioning disability in its advertising andpress, promoting the shoes instead as “sophisticated, accessible solutions”.
This rebrand indicates that Nike has learned lessons from past experiences andactively listened to the views of disabled employees.

Sources: Jobs.Nike, LinkedIn, Slate

38

04

New report reveals barriers faced
by Canadian travellers withdisabilities.

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The federal Auditor General’s report found that more than one
million people with disabilities encountered barriers on federally
regulated planes and trains in 2019 and 2020.
The report, published in March 2023, states that about two-thirds of people withdisabilities in Canada encountered barriers on federally regulated planes and trains in2019 and 2020, highlighting a lack of consultation and enforcement by agencies
involved.
Auditor General Karen Hogan says in the report that Via Rail and the Canadian Air
Transport Security Authority (CATSA) have made accessibility improvements inrecent years, but serious gaps still remain.
One of the issues considered in the report was a lack of fully accessible travelbooking sites, causing major problems for travellers with disabilities. For example,
one of the accessibility issues noted was that the wrong departure times showed on
the Via Rail website for people using a screen reader.

1 million
people with disabilities in Canada encountered barriers on
federally regulated planes and trains in 2019 and 2020.

Sources: Global News, CTV News, PAX NewsThe report found that transport companies missed opportunities to gain
insights on the travel experiences of people with disabilities by not conducting
a more thorough analysis of available complaint data.
It also found that almost a third of executives and managers at CATSA werelate in completing mandatory accessibility training, and at Via Rail, 39% werelate, while 17% didn’t do it at all.
The Canadian Transportation Agency has promised to consult with, andshadow, travellers with a variety of disabilities on their journeys to get an ideaof their experience and include that information in their renewed enforcement
strategy.
39

05Sony Electronics launches new
retinal projection camera kit.

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The new camera kit helps people with low vision capture theworld around them.
Together, Sony and QD Laser are offering technology with focus-free retinal
projection, giving people with low vision a new way to view and photograph the world.
The camera kit consists of Sony's DSC-HX99 compact camera and QD Laser’s Retissa
Neoviewer, a viewfinder that uses laser retinal projection technology to project a
digital image directly onto a photographer's retina.
It fires a low-power, full-colour laser beam through the centre of the user's pupil andprojects a crystal-clear image directly onto the retina, meaning that the retina
essentially becomes the screen. This sidesteps common issues many people havewith the parts of the eye needed to focus images.
Retissa, the maker of the Neoviewer, designs technology for the 250 million people
worldwide with visual impairments, working with ophthalmologists, orthoptists,
opticians and schools for the blind to design products to improve quality of life.
Sony hopes to make photography more accessible for a wider range ofphotographers and creators. To that end, the technology company is bearing a
portion of the costs of the product and offering the new kit for only US$600. Sonyalso plans to collaborate with Japanese and American schools for the blind.
The camera kit will be available to purchase in the US in limited quantities throughSony’s website, starting early summer 2023.
Sources: Sony Electronics, Imaging Resource

We continue to leverage creativity and technology toenhance the accessibility of our products, services andexperiences. The Retina Projection Camera kit is a stepin our commitment to a future that empowers all typesof creators.
Yang Cheng, Vice President, Imaging Solutions,Sony Electronics Inc.
40

10

Netflix updates Disability Collection
and accessibility features.

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Regional perspectives

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In March, Netflix introduced the ability to customise subtitles shown on TV thatwere previously only modifiable on the web, giving members more choice andcontrol over selecting the size and style of the subtitles to suit their needs.

‘Celebrating Disability with Dimension’ is a global collection ofseries and films with characters or stories about people livingwith disabilities.
As part of its continuing work to improve accessibility and representation, in May
2023, Netflix updated its disability collection to include newly added films ‘I Used to
Be Famous’ and ‘True Spirit’, alongside favourites like ‘Love on the Spectrum’ and‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’.
The streaming giant also announced that over the last year it has focused onincreasing the total number of films and series that support Audio Descriptions (AD)and Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SDH), and on expanding thelanguages availability in AD and SDH, so that more members can enjoy great stories
from around the world.

Leveraging member feedback to improve the viewing
experience for one member living with a disability
makes it better for all of us.
Heather Dowdy, Director of Product Accessibility,
Netflix
Sources: Netlfix, YouTube

Netflix viewers can customise subtitles on TV, choosing from various
colours, sizes and effects.

In a statement on its website, Netflix also paid
tribute to disability rights activist Judy
Heumann, who passed away earlier in 2023. In
2020, Judy featured in the Academy Award
nominated documentary Crip Camp released by
the streaming service. The company dedicatedtheir work to improve accessibility to Judy,saying: ”On Global Accessibility Awareness Day,
we remember Judy’s legacy and continue ourwork to make entertainment for everyone.”41

SOUTHAMERICAH
Hiringtrends• There was an increase in the number of diversity andinclusion jobs advertised across the region comparedwith the previous quarter of study, with a wide spread
across the region.

Executive summary

Let’s discuss

The global view

Regional perspectives

Conclusion

Sample of diversity, inclusion, accessibility and ESG roles posted on
LinkedIn (March — May 2023)• The majority of roles advertised were for website
accessibility specialists and programme managers,
suggesting an increased focus from organisations in theregion on compliance with web accessibility guidelines.
• The roles were advertised by a strong mix of local
companies and global brands with a presence in SouthAmerica.
• There was also a rise in the number of roles advertised ashybrid or remote compared with last quarter. Thissuggests a move towards more flexible working
practices.

Website Accessibility
Specialist
Rad Hires(Chile, Remote)Diversity and Inclusion
Positions
Diageo(Colombia)

D&I Program Manager
F5(Mexico, Hybrid)

Accessibility Program Manager(Web Accessibility)
HP(Mexico, Hybrid)

Head of Social Inclusion
Pacifica Continental(Argentina)

Regional DEI Leader
Gensler(Costa Rica)

43

04

Wheel the World partners withExpedia Group.
The accessible travel company, which started in Chile, isjoining forces with Expedia Group as its exclusive partner.
Travellers who use a wheelchair can now seamlessly book Expedia Group’s global
supply of hotels complemented by Wheel the World’s detailed accessibility data.

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92% of consumers believe it’s important for travel providers to meet theaccessibility needs of all travellers.

70% of consumers say they would choose a travel option that was more

inclusive to all types of travellers, even if it’s more expensive.

Wheel the World customers will soon have access to Expedia Group’s hotel inventory,
with the ability to filter properties by their accessibility needs and preferences
through application programming interface (API) technology.
The partnership will also give Expedia customers an added layer of accessibility data,
including but not limited to bed height, room width and specific shower
characteristics.
Wheel the World provides travel to destinations globally in North America, Latin
America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. They first launched Expedia Group’s
Rapid API in the US and are gradually expanding to other markets globally.
Inclusivity is a priority for travellers, according to the 2022 Inclusive Travel Insights
Report by Expedia Group Media Solutions, which found that 92% of consumers
believe it’s important for travel providers to meet the accessibility needs of all
travellers.
Respondents also indicated they would spend more on travel that’s inclusive, with
70% of consumers saying they would choose a travel option that was more inclusive
to all types of travellers, even if it’s more expensive.
Sources: PhocusWire, Expedia

At Wheel the World, our purpose is to maketravel accessible for people with disabilities,
and we know that we need to collaborate
with other companies to make it happen.
Alvaro Silberstein, CEO & Co-Founder,
Wheel the World

44

04

Piuta Beach becomes the twelfth
accessible beach in Costa Rica.

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The beach in Limón, Costa Rica, has become accessible thanks
to a new campaign to make the Caribbean a more inclusive
destination.
The Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) and the Costa Rican Network of Accessible
Tourism inaugurated Piuta Beach as part of the DONATAPA campaign, which aims to
make the Caribbean an “innovative, sustainable, and inclusive destination for all
tourists to enjoy”.
The project aligns with the country’s National Tourism Plan 2022 - 2027, based upon
inclusion, innovation, and sustainability, positioning Costa Rica as an accessible
destination, according to the Minister of Tourism, William Rodríguez.
The beach now has a 30-metre retractable walkway and an amphibious chair thatallow people with disabilities to enter the water safely.
Demonstrating how inclusivity can go hand-in-hand with sustainability, both the
walkway and the chair were constructed from 1,200 kilos of plastic caps donated byprivate companies, as well as government institutions.
This initiative is an important reactivator for Limón, an Afro-Caribbean community
with a significant population in which Piuta beach is the centre of community life.
It is hoped that the accessibility provisions will encourage more tourists to the area
who may not otherwise have been able to visit.

Sources: Travel2Latam, The Tico Times

This project is aligned with the National Tourism
Plan 2022 - 2027 whose axes of inclusion,
innovation and sustainability seek to integrate all
people into the Costa Rican tourism system on an
equal footing.
William Rodriguez,
Minister of Tourism

45

05

The Unemployment Fund
Administrator in Chile partners
with app to improve access.

Executiv
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The
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view

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The Unemployment Fund Administrator (AFC Chile) announced
its incorporation into the Lazarillo app, with the aim of
improving and facilitating access to its services for people withvisual impairments.
With more than 30,000 users in Chile, Lazarillo is a free mobile application that offers
accessibility support for people with visual impairments. The inclusive way-finding
solution offers turn-by-turn audio guidance, allowing users to move around spaces
independently and access services via customisable digital maps.
AFC users will now have an accessibility guide to its 52 branches and 16 partialservice offices throughout Chile, facilitating greater access for people with visual
impairments.
Lazarillo works with businesses and public organisations all over the world to create
an enhanced experience for customers, adding layers of accessible and interactive
digital information to physical spaces. The app currently partners with museums,
banks, hospitals, schools and public transport systems.
The company states that its development team works in close collaboration withpeople with disabilities to continually improve the platform, ensuring the needs of thedisabled community are prioritised in the company’s development of new assistive
technology solutions.
Sources: bio bio Chile, Lazarillo

46

MIDDLE EAST

AND AFRICA

H
Hiringtrends• There continued to be a decline in the number of diversity
and inclusion jobs advertised across the region thisquarter, with many of those available concentrated in the
education and charity sectors.

Executive ssu
ummaryLet’s dis
discuscusss

The global view

Regional perspectives

Conclusion

Sample of diversity, inclusion, accessibility and ESG roles posted on
LinkedIn (March — May 2023)• Among the roles on offer, the highest demand was for
specialists and advisors on ESG and diversity andinclusion.
• Israel continues to be a hub for accessibility-related
positions, with a number of internships and opportunities
for students being advertised this quarter.

Corporate Head of Inclusion
GEMS Education(Dubai)Web Accessibility Analyst(Student Position)accessiBe(Israel)Director, Diversity, Equity
and Inclusion (DEI)
Clinton Health Access
Initiative, Inc.
(Nigeria)

Diversity and Inclusion
Specialist
Dimension Data
(South Africa, Hybrid)

Talent Development andInclusion Specialist
Otis Elevator Co.
(Turkey)

ESG Consultant
AECOM(Dubai)48

04

Red Sea Global pledges torevolutionise accessible tourism.

Executiv
cutivee ssumumm
mary

Let’s discuss

The global view

Regional perspectives

Concl
clus
usio
ion
n

The multi-project developer has committed to becoming
entirely disability-friendly.
The European Network for Accessible Tourism estimates that the global economy
loses US$150 billion each year by not acknowledging the spending power and sheer
scale of accessible tourism.
Many have promised action in the world of accessible travel, without delivering on
their commitments, but Red Sea Global (RSG) has set itself some very ambitious
targets. It will require all its employees, consultants and partners to follow the UNbacked standard, ISO 21902 - Accessible Tourism for All, throughout their work.
The standard means every contractor at RSG’s destinations must ensure guest
experiences take a universally inclusive approach. This commitment includes using
new technologies to enhance luxury tourism experiences for people with disabilities
and their families, who have historically been underserved by the global industry.

It is totally inexcusable for our industry
to exclude so many people.
John Pagano, CEO,Red Sea Global
Sources: Hotelier Middle East 1, Hotelier Middle East 2, Hotel & Catering News Middle East

The developer will add ramps and accessible rooms at all its hotels and offer
adaptive experiences. Guests with a disability who take part in activities will be
provided with adaptive equipment and partnered with specially trained
instructors and through RSG’s diving subsidiary, Galaxea, PADI-certified
adaptive support divers will be trained to assist divers with disabilities.
Red Sea Global will also operate seaplanes, making bespoke provisions forguests with disabilities, to mitigate boarding challenges. Before arrival, there
will be trained handlers at the Red Sea International Airport to enable the safe
transportation of wheelchairs and specialist equipment.
Finally, to ensure the active participation of people with disabilities in the
future of the tourism industry, RSG will continue to work with its hospitality andleisure partners to invest in opportunities for staff and potential talent withdisabilities.
49

07

New study explores challenges
young Kenyan entrepreneurs withdisabilities face online.
The study recommends that designers of digital products andservices involve people with disabilities at the beginning of
the design process and include more robust accessibility
testing to reduce the barriers identified by participants.

Executiv
cutivee ssumumm
mary

In Kenya, millions of people use digital platforms as part of everyday life. According
to the 2021 FinAccess Report, over 81% of adults indicated that they use digital
devices (especially for mobile money transactions) with 16% of adults making andreceiving payments for goods and services using mobile money, and 13% using ecommerce platforms.

platform work.

Sources: All Africa, Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, Statista, Kenya Bureau of Standards

Regional perspectives

Concl
clus
usio
ion
n

The top challenges cited by respondents were a lack of the ICT skills andknowledge needed to use digital platforms (86%), and the cost of assistive
technology (80%). Participants described how devices with built-in
accessibility features can be expensive. For instance, iPhones are moreaccessible than Android devices, but also more costly.
Table 7The study found that the most popular digital platform used by young people withdisabilities for conducting business is WhatsApp (91%). Generally, participants
reported that WhatsApp met the needs of simplicity, accessibility, and familiarity,and for participants with visual impairments, it can be easily accessed using ascreen reader and/or talkback feature.

The global view

However, the report found that many e-commerce platforms still present
significant challenges for sellers with disabilities, which are accentuated by theinherent barriers they face, such as reduced access to education and capital.

Conducted by inABLE and Technoprise, in partnership with Caribou Digital and theMastercard Foundation, the study focused on the experiences of young people withdisabilities in Kenya earning a living via digital platforms.

Kenya launched the Standard on Accessibility for ICT Products and Services for
Persons with Disabilities in 2022, which provides guidance for producers andservice providers to make their digital products and services accessible to all.

Let’s discuss

Top challenges of platform sales for those with disabilities• lhe Experi ence

Lack of ICT skills and knowledge is the main barrier tor digital

The cost of assistive devices is the main barrier for digitalplatform work.
Negative attitudes toward people with disabilities are themain barrier.
Digital platform creators involve people with disabilities.
The county government recognizes and supports people
with disabilities.

Agree

NeutralDisagree

86%

4%

10%

80%

5%

15%

64%

10%

26%

36%

26%

39%

35%

21%

44%

However, the findings suggest that there is potential for online platforms toeliminate many of the physical barriers that young Kenyans with disabilities
face to running their businesses, and the study makes a series ofrecommendations as to how service providers can improve their offerings.
50

06Standard Chartered launches
second Youth to Work programme
for young people across Africa.

Executiv
cutivee ssumumm
mary

Let’s discuss

The global view

Regional perspectives

Concl
clus
usio
ion
n

The flagship employability programme is part of the bank’s
global ‘Futuremakers’ initiative to tackle inequality andpromote greater economic inclusion for young people.
The ‘Futuremakers’ initiative, led by the Standard Chartered Foundation (SCF), aims
to support young people by providing them with skills and experiences to transition
into employment or entrepreneurship. It focuses on three pillars: Entrepreneurship,
Employability and Education.
The Youth to Work programme is delivered by teams in Uganda, Zambia and Ghana
and is designed to support “exceptional young professionals” and small businesses todrive positive change for young people in local communities.
Disability focus
Standard Chartered states that in 2023, the initiative aims to continue to support
employability across its markets and specifically promote economic inclusion foryoung people with disabilities.
To this end, the Youth to Work programme has extended the eligibility criteria foryoung people with disabilities in 2023, allowing anyone with a disability between theages of 21 and 35 to apply.

Sources: Opportunities for Africans, The Challenges Group, B&FT Online, Standard CharteredThrough our Youth to Work programme, wecreate opportunities for young people tobecome job-ready.
Asiedua Addae, Head Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing,Standard Chartered Bank Ghana
51

05

New instrument developed forpeople with Cerebral Palsy.

Executive summary

Let’sdiscuss
L
et’s discussThe global view

Regional perspectives

Concl
clus
usio
ion
n

A development team in Israel has created an accessibilityfocused instrument with a web platform that enables easy
pick-up-and-play functionality.
Boaz Rienshrieber was working as a music teacher when he was approached by aprospective student whose cerebral palsy severely inhibited her ability to play or evenhold a guitar.. After failing to find an appropriate instrument for her, Boaz decided to
put together a development team to construct an instrument perfectly tailored to her
physical abilities: the Arcana Strum.
The instrument’s design is based on the controls of a motorised wheelchair. In its
simplest form, the instrument is intended to be placed on a table or the musician’slap, and is played via a combination of large, colour-coded buttons and a lever used tostrum.

We want to give an opportunity to tens of
millions of children worldwide to not besystematically excluded from music education.
Haim Kairy, CEO/CTO & Co-Founder,
ArcanaSources: The Jerusalem Post, LinkedIn, Arcana Instruments

The instrument’s chord panel can be rotated up to 180 degrees, allowing forcountless ways to hold the instrument, which can be hugely helpful formusicians who feel more comfortable using their heads, toes or elbows thantheir fingers.
Just as important as the instrument itself is the online learning platform that
Arcana Instruments has designed to teach students how to play it. The portal
automatically detects the instrument’s connection to a computer, turning it intoa simple plug-and-play system. The website features a long list of chord chartsfor popular songs, which simply illustrate which buttons to push and when.
Last month, Arcana won first place in Innovation at the GES Awards, the world’s
largest international Education Technology competition.
52

CONCLUSION

RECOMMENDATIONS
01

Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 2023.

02

Representation ‘firsts’.

03

AI–enabled inclusion.

04

Accessible tourism goes global.

05

Inclusive technology enables new experiences.

Businesses should use global awareness days to announce tangible
commitments to inclusion, rather than paying lip service.

Companies across all sectors should continually look for new andimpactful ways to improve disability representation.

Developers should be aware of the new and emerging ways that
artificial intelligence can be used to empower people with disabilities.

Businesses in the travel and tourism industries should continue toprioritise the inclusion of people with disabilities around the world.

Technology companies should continue to identify opportunities forinnovation that can bring new experiences to disabled consumers.

Executive summary

06

Let’s discuss

The global view

Regional perspectives

Conclusion

Big brands challenge perceptions of disability.
Brands have an opportunity and a responsibility to raise awarenessand challenge stereotypes about disability.

07

New research reveals insights on disabled workers.

08

Social media drives conversations about accessibility.

09

Business leaders speak up about their disabilities.

10

Representation on TV remains a focus.

Businesses are in a powerful position to fund research which can
improve the lives of disabled people in the workplace and beyond.

Brands should make use of digital platforms to advocate for thedisabled community and participate in critical conversations.

Leaders at major organisations should promote inclusive leadership byusing their platform to share their own experience of disability.

Companies producing on-screen content should continue to prioritise
representation and regularly subject themselves to scrutiny.

54