Designing a world that includes everybody The Valuable 500 Global Trend Report Issue Four – March 2021 In association with

In this report, you’ll find…

1. Executive summary of findings Identifying the most significant changes in the quarter of study

3

2. The global view of Leadership, Culture and Brand Analysis of notable moves, changes or development

7

3. Regional perspectives Analysis of the topic c hapters for each of the five regions

15

4. Conclusion and moving forward 48

Section 1 :

Executive summary of findings.

Nike announced the launch of its first ‘hands-free’ shoe: the G O FlyEase trainer.

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

Top Global Trends

1. Businesses are finding new and m eaningful ways to improve user experience for consumers with disabilities.

2. The entertainment industry has m ade considerable progress in disability inclusion this quarter.

3. COVID-19 continues to disproportionally impact those with d isabilities.

Top Regional Trends

1. There is less regional disparity in disability inclusion compared to May 2020 (Issue One).

2. However, there remains disparity within regions themselves. For example, most D&I roles in South America are still located within Brazil.

3. Businesses are advertising roles dedicated to accessibility, but this is most prominent in No rth America.

Section 1: Executive summary of findings

Section 1: Executive summary of findings

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

Businesses are finding new and meaningful ways to improve user experience for disabled consumers

This quarter, there has been a strong focus on improving the experience of those with disabilities when using products and services. McDonald’s India, for example, introduced adaptive packaging for those with limited hand mobility, while Sony Music is investing in a project which converts a song’s rhythm

into vibrations so that people who are D/deaf and hard of hearing can experience the music.

The entertainment industry has made considerable progress in disability inclusion this quarter

People with disabilities have historically been, and still are, severely underrepresented in the entertainment industry. This quarter, some of the largest entertainment businesses including BBC Studios and NBCUniversal (which owns Universal and DreamWorks) have taken steps to improve

inclusivity in film and television, both on and off the screen.

COVID-19 continues to disproportionally impact people with disabilities

COVID-19 has provoked long-term changes in consumer behaviour. For example, many consumers across the globe will continue to shop more online and work from home once the pandemic is over. Businesses must ensure that they cater to the needs of people with disabilities when responding to

these changes, for example by ensuring that their websites and apps are accessible for all. 5

Section 1: Executive summary of findings

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

Inclusive companies:

• Microsoft remains a leader in inclusivity. This quarter, it used social media to raise awareness for International Day of People with Disabilities. It also went a step further and provided meaningful advice and materials to help users understand how to make Twitter content more inclusive, for example by adding descriptive alternative text to images.

• Microsoft is also looking to hire an Accessibility Specialist in Washington DC, as it continues to invest in improving the user experience for people with disabilities.

Key trends: Accessibility, inclusive leadership

• McDonald’s has invested in improving the dine-in experience for consumers with disabilities.

• This quarter, McDonald’s India launched its ‘EatQual’ packaging, which makes eating its burgers easier for people with limited hand mobility. Not only does this expand food options and make life easier for people with disabilities, but it unlocks a larger customer base for McDonald’s to serve.

Key trends: Inclusivity, accessibility, user experience

• Amazon advertised D&I roles across various regions this quarter, including a Talent Acquisition Intern (Inclusion, Diversity and Equity) in Berlin, Accessibility Program Lead in Seattle, and Diversity Talent Bank in São Paulo.

• When hiring, Amazon accommodates for people with disabilities by offering ASL interpreters for interviews, helping to make the recruitment process more accessible for disabled people.

• Amazon also improved the accessibility features on the Alexa app this quarter.

Key trends: Inclusive leadership, inclusive hiring, global,accessibility

• Sony has leveraged its scale and expertise to support a small project which aims to improve musical experiences for people with hearing loss.

• Sony Brazil will work with the ‘Feel the Music’ project, which uses AI to convert a song’s rhythm into vibrations from a smartphone, to allow people with hearing loss to experience music.

• This sets an example for other large technology companies, which should also use their significant resources to support inclusivity projects.

Key trends: Accessibility, inclusivity, user experience

6

Section 2 :

The global view of Leadership, Culture and Brand.

Over 430 leaders and brands across the world ha ve signed up to The Valuable 500.

Section 2: The global view

The global vi ew The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

Business leadership 1. Businesses are no longer solelyadvertising senior/managerial positions for diversity and inclusion roles; associate and intern positions were more abundant this quarter.

Culture 1. Entertainment and media

companies are improvingrepresentation of the disabledcommunity in both digital andprint media.

2. Political barriers that thedisabled community face havebeen broken down in some areas,most notably in the US followingthe inauguration of president JoeBiden.

3. Long-term changes in consumerbehaviour are transforming theneeds of people with disabilities,and business must adapt.

Brand Experience Brand Experience 1. Representation of people with

disabilities in the mainstream beauty industry is very low, and there continues to be limited advancements in this.

2. While businesses in othersectors are adapting brandexperience to suit the needs ofpeople with disabilities, muchmore could still be done.

8

Section 2: The global vi ew: Leadership

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

Businesses are hiring diversity & inclusivity interns

•

Businesses are no longer solely advertising senior/managerial positions for diversity and inclusion roles; associate and intern p ositions were more abundant this q uarter. Providing opportunities li ke this c an bring fresh vision to bu sinesses, which is e ssential for improving inclusion.

• Some advertisements were not for specific roles, but for talent banks a t companies s uch as Am azon and Carrefour. This was particularly prominent in Brazil. The purpose of these talent banks i s to c ontact diverse individuals fo r potential roles that arise. This helps to make workforces more inclusive, and ensures that disabled individuals are not overlooked.

• Businesses must ensure that talent banks are not used to “tick a box”, but to create equal opportunities for those with disabilities.

Talent Acquisition Intern –Inclusion, Diversity and

Equity – Berlin, Germany Posted in February 2021

HR Intern, Diversity & Inclusion – Shanghai, China

Posted in February 2021

Diversity Talent Bank -São Paulo, Brazil Posted in

February 2021

Accessibility Marketing Digital

Associate – Manila, Philippines

Posted in February 2021

Diversity Talent Bank -São Paulo, Brazil Posted in

February 2021

Source: [1] IISD [2] UN [3] Microsoft 9

Section 2: The global view: Brand

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

Nike introduces accessible ‘hands-free’ footwearIn February 2021, Nike announced the launch of its first ‘hands-free’ shoe. The GO FlyEase trainer is aimed at all athletes – the technology allows wearers to quickly get in and out of the shoe – butis particularly useful for those with physical disabilities. People who are unable to tie shoe laces, for example, can easily slip the shoe on and off. This is a step forward in terms of improving equality through incorporating adaptive design into main collections. However, the shoe is expensive, priced at just under £105, meaning that it will not be accessible to all who would benefit from it.

The Nike GO FlyEase will initially only be available to select Nike Members. The brand plans to expand availability later on this year; it must do this as quickly as possible in order to improve accessibility for a wider range of consumers.

[1]

[2]

10

The first Nike FlyEase shoe launched in 2015 after Matthew Walzer, a boy with Cerebral Palsy, wrote a letter to Nike’s CEO outlining the difficulties that some consumers like him have with tying and untying shoe laces. The original shoe introduced a wrap-around zipper system.

"My dream is to go to the college of my choice without having to worry about

someone coming to tie my shoes every day. I've worn Nike basketball shoes all

my life. I can only wear this type of shoe, because I need ankle support to

walk. At 16 years old, I am able to completely dress myself, but my

parents still have to tie my shoes. As a teenager who is striving to become

totally self-sufficient, I find this extremely frustrating and, at times,

embarrassing."

[3]

Source: [1] Nike [2] Nike [3] Nike

Section 2: The global view: Brand

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

Tech giants improve accessibility features for blind and partially sighted users

Alexa Accessibility Make more possible w ith Alexa

Alexa continues to open possibilities and new ways to experience the world. Alexa's accessibility features are helping people be more connected, more entertained, and more independent. [1]

Amazon has improved the accessibility features on the Alexa app for users with visual impairments. It introduced light and dark display modes to improve readability and colour contrast, as well as text scaling which allows users to increase font size. Users can control both of these features in their device settings. Given Amazon’s digital dominance, it is surprising that these improvements were not made sooner.

Facebook recently improved automatic alternative text photo descriptions for blind and partially sighted users. The AI feature is now able to identify activities, landmarks, and animals, as well as position and relative size of elements, meaning that it is able to give a more detailed description of photos.

[2]

[3]Source: [1] Amazon [2] Twitter [3] Facebook 11

3ffll3Z0n.co.uk ~;-,

May be an image of 5 people, including Jay Youmens, people playing musical instruments, people standing, 2 hats, and Sdrums

Facebook Accessibility O @fbaccess

Our Automatic Alt Text (AAT) tool takes a giant leap forward today, offering image descriptions with more depth and detail. The number of objects & concepts AAT can recognize jumps to over 1200, a 1 Ox increase since the feature was introduced. #AAT

CD May be an image of 1 persont standing, and Machu Picchu

Using Al to Improve Photo Descriptions for People Who Are Blind and Visually I. .. The next generation of automatic alternative text will help people who are blind or visually impaired better understand what's in photos posted by their friends and ... c9 about fb.com

9:33 PM • Jan 19, 2021 • Twitter Web App

The global view RecommendationsOverarching trends

Section 2: The global vi ew: Culture

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

[1]

International Day of Persons with Disabilities The UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) 2020 took place on December 3rd. The event aims to promote the rights and well-being of people with disabilities, and raise awareness about the challenges they face. The 2020 theme was “Building back better: towards an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post COVID-19 world by, for and with persons with disabilities”. [1]

[2]

FIFA recognised IDPD by promoting inclusivity within football; it celebrated not only disabled footballers and officials, but also fans with disabilities. FIFA continues to focus on providing inclusive matchday services and is working with stakeholders and organisations to ensure that the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is accessible to all. FIFA must leverage its position as a global organisation with a wide audience to promote inclusivity year-round, and not just for key events like IDPD or the World Cup, as people with disabilities are still under-represented in mainstream football.

Microsoft used Twitter to raise awareness about accessibility on social media. It provided meaningful advice and materials to help users understand how to make content more inclusive, for example by adding descriptive alternative text to images and capitalising each word in a hashtag.

[3]

[4]

Source: [1] UN [2] FIFA [3] Twitter [4] Twitter 12

The global view RecommendationsOverarching trends

Section 2: The global view: Culture

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

Allure magazine launches Beauty of Accessibility series

[1]

Gucci model Ellie Goldstein, w ho has Downs Syndrome, appeared on the digital cover of the new Allure: The Beauty of Accessibility series. Allure Magazine has a large print readership, with just under five million monthly readers globally, as well as over six million digital users [4].

Ellie Goldstein’s success demonstrates the impact that fashion companies such as Gucci can have on inclusivity by providing opportunities for models with disabilities.

[2]

The new Beauty of Accessibility series aims to make beauty tutorials more inclusive for people with disabilities. It includes articles on how to paint nails with one hand and makeup tips for people with visual impairments.

[3]Source: [1] Twitter [2] allure [3] allure [4] Condé Nast 13

The global view RecommendationsOverarching trends

Section 2: The global vi ew: Consumers

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

Businesses must respond to long-term changes in consumer behaviourWhich of the following behaviours will you continue (or start) in the

'new normal' world after the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic period? (%) [1]

Source: [1] GlobalData recovery coronavirus survey, conducted between 2-6 December 2020

According to GlobalData’s recovery coronavirus survey, almost two-thirds (60%) of consumers across the globe will continue or start banking online post-pandemic. Banks m ust therefore ensure that t heir websites a nd apps a re accessible to all.

The same applies to consumer and retail businesses, with almost half (47%) of consumers globally planning to buy more products online in the ‘new normal’ world.

As consumers bank and shop more online, businesses will continue to improve websites and apps. This will benefit people with physical disabilities, for whom using online services is more accessible than visiting branches/stores.

With remote working set to become a long-term trend – just under one-third of consumers will continue to work from home post-pandemic – businesses must ensure that communicative technologies a re accessible for people with disabilities.

14

Section 3 :

The regional view.McDonald’s India launched its ‘EatQual’ packaging, which makes eating its burgers easier for people with limited hand mobility.

Section 3: The regional vi ew: Summary

The global view The regional vi ew Recommendations Overarching trends

Top 3 regional trends over view

1. Businesses are hiring roles dedicated to accessibility, but this is mostly concentrated in North America – As a result of this, brand experience will be more inclusive. C ompanies outside of North America with the resource to hire accessibility-dedicated roles should consider doing so.

2. A more diverse array of sectors a re hiring diversity & inclusion roles globally – GlobalData found home improvement and transportation businesses sought diversity & inclusion specialist roles this quarter, setting a precedent within these sectors.

3. Entertainment and media companies are making progress towards inclusivity of the disabled community – This was apparent in Europe, North America and APAC.

Roles dedicated to accessibility

Most prominent in North America

Shortage of roles dedicated to diversity and

inclusion Most prominent in

MEA

Businesses seeking candidates for diversity

talent bank Most prominent in São

Paulo, Brazil 16

Section 3a:

Europe

Section 3: The regional vi ew: Leadership

The global view Recommendations The regional vi ew Overarching trends

Europe Diversity in management

Talent Acquisition Intern – Inclusion, Diversity and

Equity – Berlin, Germany Posted in February 2021

Program Manager, EMEA & LATAM Diversity, Inclusion

and Belonging – London, UK/Dublin, Ireland

Posted in January 2021

Senior Diversity & Inclusion Lead – Berlin,

Germany Posted in February 2021

Global Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Consultant –

Gdańsk, Poland Posted in January 2021

GitHub

Software Engineer – Accessibility – Copenhagen,

Denmark Posted in February 2021

Android Engineer – Accessibility – Stockholm,

Sweden Posted in January 2021

• There were many job roles focusing on diversity and inclusion advertised in Europe this quarter. They were geographically widespread, with roles identified in the UK, Germany and Scandinavia. However, like the last two quarters, there was a lack of positions advertised in France and Spain.

• Zalando is featured once again, having also appeared in the last two quarters, as it continues to strengthen its diversity & inclusion teams.

• Many of the roles advertised in Europe have a global focus or concentrate on other regions.

18

Section 3: The regional view: Leadership

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

Europe BBC announces commitment to improve diversity across its teams

[1]

[2]

• At the end of 2020, BBC Studios Production launched an ‘Inclusion Rider’ to improve diversity across its workforce, both on and off the screen, and the content it produces.

• It has committed to ensuring that one-fifth of its on-screen talent and production teams come from a Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic background, a low-income background, or have a disability. Notably, it also aims to make sure that at least one senior role on scripted and unscripted teams is appointed from one of these backgrounds. This will help improve diversity in leadership and help drive change throughout the business.

• With its wide reach, and with many consumers relying on it not just for entertainment but also for information, the BBC has a responsibility to ensure that its content is representative of all audience groups. This commitment is certainly a step in the right direction to achieve this goal.

• BBC Studios also launched its new Diversity & Inclusion Plan, which aims to further increase inclusivity in the workplace, in January 2021.

Source: [1] BBC [2] BBC 19

Section 3: The regional vi ew: Culture

The global view The regional vi ew Recommendations Overarching trends

Europe European Commission finances SignON app for those who are D/deaf and hard of hearing

• The SignON app will aid communication between those whohave hearing loss and those who do not by translating spokenlanguage into sign language and vice-versa.

• SignON will focus on five sign languages (Irish, British, Dutch,Flemish and Spanish) and four spoken languages (Irish,English, Dutch, and Spanish) to help bridge thecommunication gap for people with hearing loss acrossEurope. The app will be free and accessible to all smartphoneusers.

• The European Commission has provided €5.6m to fund thethree-year project beginning in January 2021.

• Importantly, people with hearing loss are involved in the app’sdevelopment process. This will help ensure that it meets theirneeds and makes meaningful change.

“Our ultimate objective is the fair,

unbiased and inclusive spread of

information and digital content in

European society.” [1]

[2]

[3]

Source: [1] European Commission [2] Disability Insider [3] European Commission 20

Section 3: The regional view: Culture

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

Europe European Space Agency launches recruitment drive for greater diversity

• In February 2021, the European space chiefs launched a recruitment drive for new astronauts for the first time in 11 years, with particular emphasis on encouraging women to join. For the first time, people with physical disabilities will be invited to apply in order to participate in the "Parastronaut Feasibility Project".

• ESA (European Space Agency) call for applications to recruit 4 to 6 new astronauts, and select up to 20 candidates in the reserves, will open on the 31st March, with a wider diversity at the heart of its recruitment efforts.

• The selected individuals with physical disabilities will take part in a feasibility study ("Parastronaut Feasibility Project") to understand the requirements on safety and technical support. But the clear intention is to make the "Parastronaut Feasibility Project" a reality at some point in the future, even if this takes some time.

[1]

"This is not about tokenism, we have to be able to justify to all the people who fund us - which is everybody, including people who

happen to be disabled - that what we're doing is somehow meaningful to everybody."

Dr David Parker, the director of ESA's robotics and human spaceflight programme [2]

Source: [1] ESA [2] BBC news 21

Section 3: The regional vi ew: Consumers

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

Europe Businesses in Germany must consider the needs of people with underlying health conditions

Which best describes your current situation about your household (including yourself)? (%) [1]

Source: [1] GlobalData recovery coronavirus survey, conducted between 2-6 December 2020

According t o a recent GlobalData survey, on e-quarter of consumers in Germany suffer from an underlying health condition that increases the risk associated with COVID-19 exposure. This is higher than in any other country, and much higher than in other European countries, including the UK (14%), Sweden (11%) and Italy (8%).

Retailers and brands operating i n Germany must ensure that they provide a safe and inclusive customer experience for at-risk consumers.

Having a strong on line proposition is key for reaching t hese customers, as many will remain cautious about visiting ph ysical stores for the foreseeable future. 22

Section 3b:

APAC

Section 3: The regional vi ew: Leadership

The global view Recommendations Overarching trends The regional vi ew

APAC Diversity in management

Diversity Business Partner – Beijing, China

Posted in February 2021

Manager, Diversity & Inclusion – Delhi, India Posted in February 2021

Diversity and Inclusion Program Manager and

Comms Specialist – Bangalore, India

Posted in January 2021

Accessibility Marketing Digital Associate – Manila, Philippines

Posted in February 2021

Inclusion & Diversity Specialist – Sydney, Australia

Posted in February 2021

Diversity Promotion – Tokyo, Japan

Posted in February 2021

HR Intern, Diversity & Inclusion – Shanghai, China

Posted in February 2021

Diversity & Inclusion Manager –

Hong Kong Posted in February

2021

Analyst, Talent Management & Diversity –

Hong Kong Posted in February 2021

Diversity and Inclusion Consultant – Auckland,

New Zealand Posted in January 2021

• There are consistently a widerange of diversity-focusedroles in APAC. While themajority are managerial orsenior positions, chemical andconsumer goods specialistHenkel is offering a diversity &inclusion internship. Providingopportunities like this canbring fresh vision tobusinesses, and grow teamsdedicated to inclusion.

• Unlike in the previous quarter,roles varied across sectors andthere were some withinconsumer goods companies(Henkel, Frucor Suntory). Thiswill put people withdisabilities higher on theiragenda when creatingproducts.

24

Section 3: The regional vi ew: Leadership and Brand

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

APAC Commonwealth Bank reveals its Accessibility and Inclusion 2021-2023 plan

• Commonwealth Bank (CommBank), an Australian bank which operates in various countries globally, has released its plan for Accessibility and Inclusion in 2021-2023.

• In the plan, it outlines how it will help people with disabilities overcome some of the challenges they are facing amid COVID-19. For example, it is difficult at times for customers with visual impairments to see social distancing markers, so CommBank will provide concierges to help them navigate its branches.

[1]

The plan also highlights how colleagues are helping one another to break down barriers during COVID-19. Support from colleagues is vital to help people with disabilities overcome the challenges posed by working from home.

[1]

Source: [1] CommBank 25

Section 3: The regional vi ew: Brand

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

APAC McDonald’s India launches adaptive packaging for people with limited hand mobility

• In December 2020, McDonald’s India launched its ‘EatQual’ packaging, which m akes eating its burgers easier for people with limited hand mobility.

• The packaging is currently available for people that dine-in at McDonald’s restaurants located in West and South India. But, it should consider extending this to takeaway and McDelivery as 51.3% of consumers in India are eating less outside of the home due to the pandemic [2], restricting its accessibility.

[1]

•

The ‘EatQual’ packaging should set a precedent for McDonald’sand its franchise owners across the globe to make the brand experience more accessible to people with d isabilities.

• Not only does this expand food options and make life easier for people with d isabilities, but it unlocks a larger c ustomer b ase for McDonald’s to serve.

• According to the 2011 Census of India, around 2.2% of the country’s total population (c. 26.8m people) has a disability [3].

Source: [1] Adgully [2] GlobalData’s COVID-19 recovery survey, conducted between 2-6 December 2020 [3] Census of India 26

Section 3: The regional view: Brand

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

APAC Malaysian National News Agency includes sign language interpreters in its news broadcasts

• The Malaysian National News Agency, also known as BERNAMA, now includes sign language interpreters in selected news broadcasts.

• This is particularly important amid the COVID-19 crisis, as it gives people with hearing loss better access to important information and updates about the pandemic.

[1]

[2]

• In April 2020, campaigners started legal proceedings against the UK government due to a lack of sign language interpreters at daily coronavirus briefings. The campaign began on Twitter with the hashtag #WhereIsTheInterpreter? The BBC now uses interpreters, but only on the News Channel.

• Ensuring that important news and information is accessible to all should have been a priority for governments long before the outbreak of COVID-19.

• Other governments across the world must take steps to ensure that news broadcasts are accessible to people with disabilities, not just during COVID-19 but for the long-term.

Source: [1] Bernama [2] BBC 27

Section 3: The regional view: Brand

The global view Recommendations Overarching trends The regional vi ew

APAC Fast Retailing commits to expanding its disability inclusion

• Japanese retail company Fast Retailing, which owns several clothing specialists including Uniqlo and J Brand, recently joined The Valuable 500. Following this, it outlined how it is expanding its commitment to disability inclusion.

• It focuses on five measures: hiring of persons with disabilities and a cceptance training; creating products, services and sales spaces based on feedback from customers and employees; a diversity & inclusion website; support for sports programs for people with disabilities, and support for people with disabilities in local communities.

• These measures have already been actioned by Fast Retailing, but it aims to expand these globally where it has not already.

There are significant gaps in inclusive and a daptive fashion, but Uniqlo’s commitment to disability inclusion will b ring a daptive fashion higher up on its agenda.

[2]

Source: [1] Fast Retailing [2] Fast Re tailing 28

Section 3: The regional vi ew: Consumers

The global view Recommendations The regional vi ew Overarching trends

APAC A large proportion of consumers in China and India would like more information from brands amid COVID-19

What kind of information would you like from brands during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic period? (%) [1]

Source: [1] GlobalData’s COVID-19 recovery survey, conducted between 2-6 December 2020.

Brands in China and India must do more in terms of transparency; a noticeably larger proportion of consumers in China and India would like further information from brands amid t he pandemic than those in Australia.

Tips on personal health and wellbeing is the most desired information from consumers in all three countries. Br ands should ensure that tips are inclusive by being re levant to the disabled community.

29

Section 3c:

North America

Section 3:

The global view Recommendations Overarching trends

The regional view: Leadership

The regional vi ew

North America Diversity in management

Accessibility Engineer – Colorado, USA

Posted in February 2021

Accessibility Program Lead – Seattle, USA

Posted in February 2021

Principal Program Manager –

Accessibility and Inclusive Design – San Francisco, USA Posted in January

2021 Accessibility Program Coordinator – Salt Lake City, USA

Posted in February 2021

Accessibility Specialist – Washington DC, USA

Posted in February 2021

Director of University Disability Resources –

Massachusetts, USA Posted in January 2021

Specialist, Diversity, E quity &

Inclusion – Toronto, ON,

Canada Posted in February

2021

Diversity and Inclusion Advisor – Ontario, Canada

Posted in February 2021

• There was no shortage ofdiversity and inclusionleadership roles in NorthAmerica this quarter. Likelast quarter, many of theseroles were advertised bylarge technology companiessuch as Apple andMicrosoft.

• There were more rolesfocusing specifically onaccessibility in NorthAmerica than in any otherregion, as the world’slargest businesses continueto invest in improving theexperience of those withdisabilities when usingtheir websites, devices andservices.

31

Section 3: The regional vi ew: Brand

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

North America NBCUniversal commits to auditioning actors with disabilities

NBCUniversal, the entertainment corporation that includes Universal and DreamWorks, has recently accepted the Ruderman Family Foundation guidelines on opening auditions to actors with disabilities. It means that actors with disabilities will be included in auditions for all new Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, NBC network and Peacock productions. CBS Entertainment made a similar commitment in 2019.

This is a step towards making Hollywood more inclusive, and ensuring that those with disabilities are represented in the media. It will also help make sure that characters with disabilities are portrayed authentically by actors with a disability.

[1]

[2]

[3]

Disney must follow in the footsteps of NBCUniversal and CBS Entertainment and commit to improving representation for people with disabilities. It recently came under fire on Twitter for not casting actors with disabilities.

Source: [1] NBCUniversal [2] Ruderman Family Foundation [3] Twitter 32

Section 3: The regional view: Brand

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

North America Runway of Dreams Foundation to host drive-in adaptive fashion show

• Runway of Dreams Foundation aims to improve inclusivity for people with disabilities in fashion – an industry where disability is still severely under-represented. It will host a drive-in adaptive fashion show in Miami in March.

• The show will feature clothing and footwear from sponsors including Kohl’s, Zappos Adaptive and Tommy Hilfiger Adaptive.

• Joey Fatone, member of NSYNC and presenter of Impractical Jokers, will host the event. Celebrity participation in events such as this is key in boosting awareness.

[1]

[1] [2]

Source: [1] Runway of Dreams Foundation [2] Twitter 33

Section 3: The regional vi ew: Culture

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

North America The Biden administration commits to improving accessibility for people with disabilities

[1]

Since the inauguration of President Joe Biden, various improvements have already been made to the White House website to make it more accessible for people with disabilities. These include a new high contrast mode as well as a toggle for increasing font size for people with visual impairments.

The White House website also now includes a new Accessibility Statement, which importantly states that the White House welcomes feedback about how to further improve the website’s accessibility. Input from people with disabilities is key to ensure that services such as this meet their needs.

In addition to this, the Biden administration has committed t o featuring a n American sign language interpreter in all daily White House press briefings to improve accessibility for people with hearing loss.

[2]

Source: [1] The White House [2] The White House 34

Section 3: The regional vi ew: Consumers

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

North America Demand for tailored products is rising in the USA

How much does a product/service being tailored to your needs and personality influence your pr oduct choice? (%)

Source: [1] GlobalData recovery coronavirus survey, conducted between 2-6 December 2020 [2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

More than one-quarter (26%) of consumers in the USA stated that how well a product or service is tailored to their needs always influences their product choice. This is a three percentage point increase on last quarter, and means the USA is now ahead of the global average.

Around 61 million (one in four) adults in the USA have a disability [2]. Retailers and brands operating in North America must therefore ensure that they offer an inclusive product range.

Allowing consumers to personalise and customise products such as adaptive clothing and footwear products will also appeal to those looking for products that suit their own needs and personalities.

[ 1]

35

Section 3d:

South America

Section 3: The regional vi ew: Leadership

The global view Recommendations The regional vi ew Overarching trends

South America Diversity in management

Inclusion & Diversity Program Manager –

Colón, Panama Posted in February 2021 Diversity & Inclusion

Analyst – São Paulo, Brazil Posted in February

2021

Sourcing Specialist, Supplier Diversity – São

Paulo, Brazil Posted in February 2021

Diversity Talent Bank -São Paulo, Brazil Posted in

February 2021

LATAM Inclusion & Diversity Program

Director – São Paulo, Brazil

Posted in February 2021

Inclusion & Diversity Manager, LATAM – São

Paulo, Brazil Posted in January 2021

Diversity Talent Bank -São Paulo, Brazil Posted in

February 2021

• As in the previous edition, diversity & inclusion roles were concentrated in São Paulo, Brazil, and many were at technology/online-only companies.

• Some advertisements were not for specific roles, but for talent banks at companies such as Amazon and Carrefour. The purpose of these talent banks is to contact diverse individuals for potential roles that arise. This helps to make workforces more inclusive, and ensures that disabled individuals are not overlooked.

• Jeld Wen Inc.’s role in Panama is particularly interesting; diversity & inclusion roles within home improvement companies are rarer than those at tech companies. This is a step in the right direction, and can set a precedent for other companies in the same sector. 37

Section 3: The regional vi ew: Brand

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

South America Peru’s Ministry of Education provides educational materials to students with disabilities

• The Ministry of Education in Peru has converted educational texts into c.1,100 accessible audios for children and adolescents with visual impairments. It has also introduced braille-adapted texts for deafblind students. The beneficiaries are children from public schools, giving those from lower-income families more accessible education.

• Companies that are based in or operate in Peru can supplement this by donating educational materials and technological items to support children with disabilities. This will contribute to corporate social responsibility, and is even more imperative amid COVID-19 where barriers to education are heightened.

Source: [1] El Peruano 38

Section 3: The regional view: Brand

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

South America Sony Music Brazil launches Digital Accelerator Program

• The purpose of the program is to drive Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning within music in Brazil. The first event of the program was a hackathon, and one winner of this was a project called ‘Feel The Music’. The group created AI technology which converts a song’s rhythm into vibrations from a smartphone, enabling people who are D/deaf and hard of hearing to experience music. [1]

• As a result of the win, Sony Brazil will work with Feel The Music to expand its scale and ensure it is viable for commercial use.

• Events like this will propel technological advancements of adaptive experiences for people with disabilities, and provide a much-needed platform for developers to do so. Technology companies with significant resources must continue to support adaptive projects, and strive to create a more inclusive climate for the disabled community. [2]

Source: [1] Disability Insider [2] Music Business Worldwide 39

Section 3: The regional vi ew: Culture

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

South America Inclusivity in beauty pageants

• Jenifer Pulgarín Candelo, a model with hearing loss, participated in the contest to represent Colombia at the Miss Universe beauty pageant. Of 30 candidates, she was the runner-up.

• Jenifer Pulgarín Candelo has participated in various beauty pageants, having won the Miss Deaf Colombia contest in 2017 and represented Colombia in the “International Fashion Show for the Deaf” in Italy.

• Her participation in Miss Universe Colombia is particularly significant as the competition is not just for people with disabilities, and is therefore, an important step in increasing re presentation for people with disabilities in mainstream beauty pageants. [1]

[2]

“It is crucial to raise awareness around the world about the importance of inclusion in our societies, where people

with disabilities are ignored and relegated to the background.” [1]

Jenifer Pulgarín Candelo Source: [1] Disability Insider [2] Twitter 40

Section 3: The regional vi ew: Consumers

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

South America An unsettling percentage of consumers in Brazil are concerned about the availability of basic groceries

The percentage of consumers in Brazil that are concerned about the availability of groceries (%) [1]

Source: [1] GlobalData’s COVID-19 recovery survey. Concern is a combination of the responses ‘extremely concerned’, ‘quite concerned’ and ‘slightly concerned’.

Concern about the availability of basic groceries is rising significantly in Brazil; 78.0% of consumers in Brazil were concerned to some degree in December 2020. This is an increase of 10.4 percentage points compared to August 2020.

This will disproportionately affect the disabled community. The rising percentage of concern suggests that retailers could do more to support disabled people where governmental support falls short. For example, food and grocery wholesaler Alerassai Atacadista is making donations of food, cleaning an d hygiene products to at-risk communities across Brazil via its stores and through third parties.

41

Section 3e:

MEA

Section 3: The regional vi ew: Leadership

The global view Recommendations Overarching trends The regional vi ew

MEA Diversity in management

Human Capital Co-ordinator- ONLY

PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY TO

APPLY– Western Cape, South Africa

Posted in February 2021

Inclusion & Diversity Manager – Dubai, U nited

Arab Emirates Posted in February 2021

Program “SHINE” – Development Program for People with Disabilities –

Cairo, Egypt Posted in February 2021

Autism Inclusion Coordinator – Abu Dhabi,

United Arab Emirates Posted in January 2021

• There was a higher number ofroles focused on gender inclusionin Africa compared to thosefocused on disability.

• The role advertised by globallogistics company DP World isparticularly interesting asdiversity and inclusion roles areless common in this sector.

• As found in previous quarters,there is a far smaller quantity ofdiversity and inclusion rolesavailable in Africa compared toother continents. This willtransalte into less inclusive workenvironments andproducts/services for thedisabled community.

43

Section 3: The regional vi ew: Leadership

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

MEA Sixth International Conference on Disability and Rehabilitation announced for January 2022

• In January 2021, it was announced that the sixth International Conference on Disability and Rehabilitation and the King Salman Disability Research Award will take place in January 2022 in Saudi Arabia.

• The aim of the conference is to ‘highlight the pioneering role that the Kingdom plays in serving persons with disabilities, enhance the role of scientific research and benefit from local, regional, and global experiences in the field of disabilities’. Its slogan is ‘empowering people with disabilities from childhood to youth — between research and application.’

The conference, which was last held in 2018, gives companies in Saudi Arabia a chance to show their support for the disabled community through sponsorships or partnerships with the event.

[2] Source: [1] Riyadh Daily [2] Arabnews.com 44

Section 3: The regional vi ew: Brand

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

MEA Web accessibility solution provider raises additional capital

• Israel-based web accessibility solution provider AccessiBe has raised a total of $28 million in series A funding after recent investment by a US-based company. This will help it to expand in the US, increase its research and development, and continue to raise awareness of internet accessibility.

• AccessiBe intends to be an effortless way for businesses to integrate accessibility into their websites, and is powered b y artificial intelligence and machine learning. It is catered to people with visual impairments, motor function disabilities, cognitive disorders and epilepsy.

• AccessiBe is already utilised by c.107,000 businesses, and will continue to grow as businesses strive for accessibility. It removes the need for specialised tech teams and extensive manual work to make websites accessible, and ensures that websites are completely compliant.

• Importantly, AccessiBe can also convert websites to 12 different languages, increasing it s reach to disabled people from a variety of countries.

Source: [1] AccessiBe 45

Section 3: The regional vi ew: Brand

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

MEA Orange Jordan provides internet to visually impaired students amid COVID-19

• Telephone network operator Orange has partnered with the Cultural Forum of the Blind to distribute high-speed internet lines and MiFi devices to visually impaired students.

• COVID-19 has exacerbated technological barriers faced by students learning from home with limited or no access to the internet. This act of corporate social responsibility by Orange is a part of its ‘Differently abled, definitely enabled’ program, which aims to improve digital inclusion in Jordan.

• A gesture like this will not only improve the lives of at-risk children, but it will also boost brand perception.

• The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted the way that children receive education, and businesses must consider how to continually support disabled children amid this rapidly changing environment.

Source: [1] Orange Jordan 46

Section 3: The regional vi ew: Leadership

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

MEA Organisations in Ghana are providing an accelerator program for disabled business owners

• The business accelerator program gives successful applicants access to coaching, mentorship and funding; this will help to secure the future of businesses owned by people with disabilities during the pandemic.

• It was created by Dislabelled, an organisation which provides academic and career development for people with disabilities in Africa, and Pitch Hub, an organisation that teaches business management skills to entrepreneurs.

• The business accelerator program would benefit from corporate sponsorship or partnership to help boost awareness. Using resources to uplift people with disabilities in this way not only contributes to economic recovery, it also safeguards the livelihoods of at-risk people.

Source: [1] Disability News Africa 47

Section 3: The regional vi ew: Consumers

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

MEA A concerningly high percentage of consumers are worried about their mental wellbeing amid COVID-19

Percentage of consumers concerned about their mental wellbeing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic (%) [1]

Source: [1] GlobalData’s COVID-19 recovery survey, conducted between 2-6 December 2020.

Almost all consumers in UAE (94.5%) are concerned to some degree about their mental wellbeing as a result of COVID-19, while 82.2% are concerned in South Africa.

Working from home or trying to adhere to social distancing measures at work provides obstacles for the disabled community, creating unnecessary additional mental strain. Employers must ensure that disabled colleagues’ voices are heard, and that working practices are inclusive.

48

Section 5 :

Conclusions. Check out Rising Phoenix on Netflix to learn more about the history and culture of the Paralympic Games.

Section 5: Conclusions

The global view The regional view Overarching trends Recommendations

Stre

ngth

s

Representation in entertainment Inclusivity of people with d isabilities o n a nd off screen w ill create long-term, positive change, and wi ll reach a g lobal audience.

Diversity and inclusion roles within different sectors This w as m ore prevalent this q uarter.

More inclusive brand experience Businesses a re placing a m ore significant focus o n th is.

Wea

knes

ses

Lack of partnerships between government and businesses Combining resources would allow organisations to make greater and more meaningful change for the disabled community.

Disparity of adaptive products in franchised businesses For example, ‘EatQual’ packaging by McDonald’s is exclusive to India.

Opportunities

Use resources to support children’s education Businesses with significant resources should consider how to support children with disabilities who face barriers to education while learning remotely.

Provide platforms for innovation Businesses s hould i nvest in discovering new talent and driving innovation for bespoke and adaptive products to meet growing consumer demand.

Threats

Economic instability caused by COVID-19 This i s th reatening businesses a nd their available resources, which could reduce the priority of disability inclusion.

Long-term changes in consumer behaviour as a result of COVID-19 Businesses m ust ensure that they adapt to meet the changing needs of people with disabilities.

50

Section 5: Conclusions

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

Consider outsourcing for accessibility

Businesses without the resource for specialised teams dedicated to accessibility should consider outsourcing. There are a number of organisations that streamline the process of making websites accessible.

Offer diversity & inclusion internships

Diversity and inclusion internships, which are becoming more abundant, are a good way to p ass on knowledge about diversity within business.

Ensure products are suitable for all

Consider how products and services can be made accessible for all, such as Nike’s Go FlyEase shoes, which reduces segregation of disabled and non-disabled people.

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Section 5: Conclusions

The global view The regional view Recommendations Overarching trends

Provide a p latform for inclusive projects

Global businesses should provide platforms for developers and inventors to c reate inclusive and adaptive products. Microsoft has invested heavily in supporting projects for or by people with disabilities, and as a result, is discovering new talent and driving innovation for adaptive products and inclusivity.

Covid-19 forces more users online

Covid-19 has led to a shift in how individuals shop and work. Therefore, it is important for businesses to a dapt to b e able to c ater to those in need. This can be achieved by making their apps and websitesmore inclusive and user friendly.

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