D , E AND I
The Valuable 500 – The Story So Far
“ This is another step forward for access to tech , and , specifically , better access in Africa . 80 % of people with disabilities live in the global south , with the World Bank estimating that 20 % of the world ’ s poorest people have some kind of disability and tend to be regarded in their communities as the most disadvantaged . We need to do better ,” said the spokesperson .
Digital accessibility is a key area of focus for members , with 58 % of the companies surveyed in the Valuable Truth report stating that they have started , or invested in , exploring inclusive innovation opportunities .
“ Digital accessibility needs to be considered within internal systems to enable inclusive employment , and within all products . This must include the hardware ,
“ SIEMENS IS PROUD TO BE PART OF THE VALUABLE 500 INITIATIVE ”
DR . ROLAND BUSCH PRESIDENT & CEO , SIEMENS AG software , content , and media ,” added the spokesperson .
The pandemic highlighted the need for accessibility in everything from video conferencing tools to online voting , as life and work moved further online . Yet people with disabilities experience a significant digital divide , which can further exacerbate the physical ones . Financial specialist and Asian development blogger , Arup Kumar Chatterjee , stated that “ there is a wide disability gap in mobile phone ownership , where people with disabilities are less likely to own a mobile phone than the nondisabled . Places like Bangladesh have the widest gap , with 55 % of the disabled not owning mobile phones , and Pakistan has the smallest , at 11 %. With the smartphone
90 July 2022