Building truly accessible workplaces

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Forbes or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) highlights the urgent need for digital inclusion for over a billion people with disabilities
• Businesses are prompted to assess their digital platforms and physical spaces for inclusivity
• True inclusiveness means embedding accessibility in all workplace processes

🔭 The context: Disabled individuals face significant workforce participation barriers, with 80-90% unemployed in developing countries and a 40% employment rate in the U.S.
• Accessibility regulations, such as the European Accessibility Act, set benchmarks, but forward-thinking companies prioritize it as a talent imperative

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Inclusive workplaces harness the potential of diverse abilities, fostering innovation and productivity
• Prioritizing accessibility not only benefits disabled employees but also drives overall organizational success and sustainability

⏭️ What's next: Companies must integrate accessibility into all processes, from recruitment to career development
• Initiatives like the Valuable 500's Generation Valuable program advocate for greater representation in leadership roles

💬 One quote: "When you make inclusive design a priority from day one, you not only create a better product for all users, you also save significant resources in the long run," said Caroline Casey

📈 One stat: EY Japan's Diverse Abilities Center reports that 92% of neurodivergent employees feel supported, and 100% take pride in being EY employees

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