Brussels, Thursday, 15th May 2025 – EY Law hosted the  Disability:IN European Roundtables in Brussels, coinciding with Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). 

The event gathered representatives from nearly 50 multinational corporations and non-profit organizations, highlighting the growing importance of accessibility and inclusion in the business sector.

The roundtable began with an introduction by Leslie Wilson, Chief Global Strategist from Disability:IN, who outlined the day's agenda focused on accessibility issues.

Keynote speaker Jenny Lay Flurrie, VP Chief Accessibility Officer at Microsoft, captivated attendees with her inspiring presentation on Microsoft's 30-year commitment to accessibility, discussing the impact of inclusive practices on organizational success.

Giulia Faedo from EFRAG provided a legislative update on the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), emphasizing the new disability reporting requirements that aim to enhance transparency and inclusiveness in corporate reporting.

A significant segment of the event focused on the Universal Disability Index, moderated by Brian Horn, Chief Operating Officer of Disability:IN. Reid Jewett Smith, Vice President of Research and Policy at Disability:IN, presented insights into the index, which aims to provide a comprehensive framework for measuring disability inclusion across various sectors. 

A discussion on neurodiversity was led by Hiren Shukla from EY and Reid Jewett Smith, VP of Research and Policy from Disability:IN. They announced forthcoming reports on neurodiversity, which are intended to assist business leaders in supporting diverse talent within their organizations.

Additionally, our colleague, Pieter-Jan Aerts from EY Law addressed the European Accessibility Act, stressing the necessity for digital accessibility in an increasingly interconnected environment.

The roundtable concluded with a call to action for continued collaboration and dedication to creating accessible environments.

For further information on inclusiveness and accessibility initiatives, please visit the Disability:IN website.