Disability Representation Is A Business Imperative

Geoff Cook

Disability Representation Is A Business Imperative

Businesses often fail to meet the needs of disabled consumers despite the significant economic influence of the disability community. A survey conducted by the Valuable 500 revealed that more than 50% of disabled individuals face barriers when trying to access content and products. Additionally, only 2% of disabled people feel that they are accurately represented in media and marketing.

Businesses often underestimate the necessary steps required to address these issues. Piecemeal efforts and tokenistic representation are inadequate. Instead, a cultural shift is needed across organizations to embed disability representation into various aspects such as media, marketing, product design, and retail spaces.

The Valuable 500 proposes three key pillars for fostering inclusive representation: Accessible Experiences, Accurate Representation, and Authentic Narratives. By prioritizing these pillars, companies can meet ethical and legal obligations, unlock economic opportunities, and transform the commercial landscape and society.

Accessible Experiences involve ensuring that products and services cater to the disabled community. This goes beyond mere compliance with regulations and captures a broader market share.

What advice would you give the companies to do better?

Ali Ingersoll

The valuable 500 has some great research and we worked with them on a project forward Disability Representation last year. It was such an honor to be part of this project.

Samantha Fletcher

The advice I give companies is give people options to choose what works for them as different people need different things.