Tokyo (SCCIJ) – The need to bolster inclusion for the 1 billion people in the world living with a disability will be a main communication goal of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2019 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, on 22-25 January. At the event, a major exhibition titled ACCESS+ABILITY will profile ingenious designs made with and by people with disabilities. Alongside panels, workshops and other sessions, business leaders will launch #valuable, a campaign aimed at committing businesses to putting disability on the boardroom agenda.
More inclusive society
The need to build a more inclusive society must include the estimated 1 billion people in the world living with a disability. This will be a key message at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2019. The meeting will bring together over 3,000 participants from government, international organizations, business, civil society, media, culture, as well as the foremost experts and young people from all over the world.
Under the theme, Globalization 4.0: Creating a Global Architecture in the Age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, participants will focus on identifying new ideas and solutions to ensure that any further global integration will be more inclusive and sustainable.
World Economic Forum to take place in Davos
Exhibition about disabilities
To highlight that inclusion must extend to those with disabilities and that people with disabilities have much to offer society and the economy, the Annual Meeting will host a major exhibition, ACCESS+ABILITY.
Developed in collaboration with Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, it will feature designs made with and by people with disabilities and demonstrate that designing for inclusion spurs innovation and benefits everyone. Items include an eye-tracking device for hands-free communication, adaptive clothing and a Braille smartwatch.
Line-up of disability advocates
Among disability advocates participating in the Annual Meeting are: Gina Badenoch, Social Entrepreneur; Susanne Bruyère, Director, Institute on Employment and Disability, Cornell University; Sinéad Burke, Writer and Educator; Caroline Casey, Inclusivity Activist; Yetnebersh Nigussie, Lawyer and Educator; Paul Polman, Chief Executive Officer, Unilever; Susannah Rodgers, Paralympian Athlete; and Thorkill Sonne, Social Entrepreneur.
“With people living longer and chronic health conditions increasing, most individuals will experience disability at some point during life. Caring for people with disabilities is in everyone’s interest. Together, we must design a more inclusive world that takes care of everyone’s current and future needs,” said Nico Daswani, Head of Arts and Culture at the World Economic Forum.
Text: World Economic Forum; Photo: Davos (Pixabay CC0)
