London, 5 May, 2022: The UN recently warned that 2.7 million disabled Ukrainians have been ‘trapped or abandoned’ by the war. Whether rooted in prejudice or just a failure to consider additional accessibility requirements, the grim statistic highlights the plight of the disabled community. The UN commented that “People with disabilities have limited or no access to emergency information, shelters and safe havens, and many have been separated from their support networks, leaving them unable to respond to the situation and navigate their surroundings.”

Working closely with the Valuable 500 as its global impact partner The Nippon Foundation is supporting the evacuation and provision of essential medicines and other assistance to the displaced persons with disabilities as well as the support of over 100 Japanese students to help people who have evacuated to neighbouring countries. The Valuable 500, using its network, has been able to help connect the Nippon Foundation with Access Israel and other local aid organisations on the front line. The assistance includes the provision of vehicles for use during evacuation; the provision of temporary accommodation and livelihood support services for displaced persons with disabilities who have already fled Ukraine. The Nippon Foundation has also launched a multi-lingual (English, Ukrainian, Russian, Polish and Romanian) website with accessibility considerations to register the needs of disabled individuals awaiting evacuation. It is hoped that this logistical intervention will act as a lifeline to those that are currently unable to access emergency information and support networks.

The situation is emblematic of the global oversight of those with disabilities – both in society and business and these types of interventions are critical in the pursuit of equity. The Valuable 500 is reaching out to its members to gain further support in providing much-needed resources for those in need, utilising its network and collaborative approach to connect contacts and companies to help support those in need.

To address these persistent issues of disability inclusion, the Valuable 500 is actively engaging with 500 companies across the world, with a total market capitalisation of $23 trillion USD, revenues of over $8 trillion, and employing 22 million employees. The reach of the Valuable 500 is global with over 12990 subsidiary brands of the Valuable 500 members in use worldwide.  Some of the most recognisable businesses from across the world have joined the campaign for inclusion, including Allianz, Apple, BBC, BP, The Coca-Cola Company, Daimler, Deloitte, EY, Google, Microsoft, Nestle, P&G, Pepsico, Prada, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., Shell, Sky, Sony, Twitter, Unilever, Virgin Media, Verizon, and Vodafone. The membership includes 36 of the FTSE 100 companies, 46 of the Fortune 500, and 28 of the Nikkei.

Since reaching the goal of 500 organisations in May 2021, the Valuable 500 has launched phase 2 of its transformation programme, which will see the 500 major organisations work together to galvanize disability inclusion in business. By conducting ongoing research with its partners, the Valuable 500 will continue to measure how disability and inclusion is progressing in the workplace and wider communities.


As a survivor of the 1945 Tokyo air raids, in which 108,000 people lost their lives, I cannot overlook Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The additional suffering of disabled Ukrainians only serves to amplify these atrocities. We are focusing on Krakow as the specific evacuation centre for people with disabilities, but we are also considering including Vienna, Austria, in some cases. The situation is changing, and we want to be flexible in dealing with it. The current focus of support for displaced persons is on healthy women and children, and we will help to ensure that people with disabilities can also be supported. The reason why we dispatch students is that we want Japanese students to know what is going on in the field, where NGOs from the international community are gathered. We believe that it is very important for the future of Japan that young people are informed about the current situation of the international community through relief work.

Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of The Nippon Foundation

 


The abandonment of disabled Ukrainian refugees is another terrible example of the way in which the disabled community is so often overlooked and left behind. The Nippon Foundation’s ongoing support for people with disabilities is exemplary – and we hope this will be matched by businesses to galvanize a systemic attitude shift at all levels of society. I am very proud to be working with The Nippon Foundation and the global Valuable 500 community to help provide support to those in need at such a difficult time.

Caroline Casey, Founder of the Valuable 500

 


Due to the Russian government’s unconscionable war on the people of Ukraine, there is a critical need to support Ukrainians with disabilities who are being left behind as millions flee. Rather than a charity approach, leading corporations and foundations who are committed to disability inclusion in their business practices need to continue their support for disability led organizations to lead efforts to be sure disaster-impacted people with disabilities are not left behind in humanitarian action and relief efforts. The Valuable 500’s global partner, The Nippon Foundation, and its members including Google, Bristol Myers Squibb and Microsoft exemplify this shift from charity to empowerment by providing humanitarian aid to crisis impacted disability-led organizations where and when it’s needed most.

Marcie Roth, CEO of the World Institute on Disability

 


Media Contacts

For interviews and further information, please contact:

Esther Levin, Seven Hills

Richard Poston, Chief of Communications, the Valuable 500


Notes to Editors

About the Valuable 500

Valuable was launched by social entrepreneur and activist Caroline Casey at One Young World 2017 in Bogota, Colombia, and the inception of the Valuable 500 was announced at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in January 2019. Today the Valuable 500 is the largest community of Global CEOs committed to disability inclusion in business.

Since its creation, the Valuable 500 has achieved its initial goal of getting 500 multinational organisations to make a public commitment to disability inclusion in their organisation, igniting a historic global movement for a new age of diversity in business. The Valuable 500 and their global impact partner The Nippon Foundation, will be working closely with the World Economic Forum and International Disability Alliance – bringing together a leading philanthropic organisation with the most prestigious global business network and the voice of the global disability community.

By engaging with the world’s most influential business leaders and brands, the network now has combined revenue of over $8 trillion, a combined market cap of $23 trillion, and employs 22 million people worldwide. Its members include 14 global CEOs and companies who will be spearheading the transformation programmes and services to be offered under Phase 2 – under the pillars of Culture within organisations; C-Suite storytelling; the Customer journey: Reporting; Representation and Research.

After reaching this important milestone, the Valuable 500 is determined to create a community that supports and empowers its 500 members to systematically transform their businesses, so they include the 1.3 billion people living with disabilities worldwide, thereby unlocking their business, social and economic potential.

We believe that society and government will follow if business takes a lead. Truly inclusive businesses can build truly inclusive societies.