Global Leaders and Innovators Unite to Drive a More Accessible Future at the G7 Summit’s Side Event in Rome

Senior British and American officials are calling for immediate action to promote inclusion as a catalyst for economic growth, urging tech giants to make accessibility a top priority. With 1.3 billion people globally affected by disabilities, the demand for inclusion is more urgent than ever. The upcoming Open Futures Forum Roundtable on October 17, 2024, in Rome, will convene global leaders and innovators to tackle this issue head-on. Hosted by the Open Society Foundations alongside the G7 Ministers’ Meeting on Inclusion and Disability and the Technology and Digital Ministerial Meeting, the event will push for greater accessibility in the digital economy and drive bold, transformative change.

Sara Minkara, the U.S. Department of State’s Special Advisor on International Disability Rights, will deliver the keynote address.

“The world is grappling withunprecedented challenges—climate change, conflict, and the digital economy’srapid transformation. Yet, in all these discussions, the voices of people withdisabilities are essential not just because it's the right thing to do butbecause we drive innovation and create value,” she said in advance.

At the opening ceremony of the G7 ministerial meeting, Sir Stephen Timms, British Minister of State for Social Security and Disability, also urged governments and businesses to prioritise inclusivity for people with disabilities. He stressed that inclusivity isn’t just about fairness—it’s vital for economic growth, aligning with this year’s push for bold, innovative policies.

Led by visionary female leaders from G7 nations, the roundtable on October 17 will ignite discussions on disability rights and technological advancements. As the UK and US governments demand solutions that secure a central role for disabled people in shaping tech’s future, this landmark event aims to drive policy changes that unlock their untapped potential in tech-driven economies.

Notes to editors

● 1.3 billion people – 1 in 6 of us– are living with a disability

● People with disabilities are, by nature and circumstance, solutions-driven individuals - but they are neglected by tech companies

● In the UK, disabled people represent just 6% of the cybersecurity workforce; of those employees, only 4%are in senior roles

● 31% of tech firms acknowledge a lack of neurodiversity within their teams

● By 2030, 85 million cyber security vacancies will need to be filled

● The Council of the EU this week adopted directives for a European Disability Card and Parking Card, highlighting the possibility of constructive change

● ...but more needs to be done to support remote tech workers living with a disability

● ChatGPT has been found to be more empathetic than professional physicians; disabled people must be involved in the shaping of empathetic technology

Speakers and Delegates
The Roundtable will feature a diverse line up of speakers and delegates, including:

● Sara Minkara (Keynote) – Special Advisor on International Disability Rights, U.S. Department of State

● Nadine Khouzam – Founder, CodeNPlay / London 2012 Olympian

● Jessica Pierce – Bioethicist, philosopher, and moderator

● Folu Ogunyeye – Analyst, The Social Investment Consultancy

● Abril Kashiya Muvumbi – Y7 Youth Delegate, Italy

● Angelica De Vito – UN Climate Migrations Consultant

● Kathleena Henricus – Young Diplomats of Canada

● Fatima Zahra El Mialiani – Knight of the Italian Republic

● Francesca Ghidini – Anti-discrimination lawyer

● Vincenzo Vaccaro – Economic policy consultant

These distinguished leaders will provide a platform for bold ideas and transformative solutions to break down the barriers faced by people with disabilities as we enter a new era of digitalisation.
www.openfuturesforum.org

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