A light blue map of Europe against a dark blue background. 5 dots on the map highlight Paris, London, Brussels, Frankfurt, and Berlin- the locations of the 5 Disability:IN European Roundtables. in the upper right hand corner is the icon version of the Disability:IN logo

Emerging Trends: What Business Leaders Across Europe Are Prioritizing Now

Last month, hundreds of corporate representatives came together for Disability:IN’s five European Roundtables in Paris, London, Brussels, Frankfurt, and Berlin. The events convened business leaders across Europe to exchange insights, identify emerging trends, and explore new data shaping the future of disability inclusion in business.

Across all conversations, three key themes emerged:

Trends and Insights

A blue outline of a map of the EMEA regions. Surrounding the outline are icons for digital accessibility, smart phones with read aloud text, marketplace, and curb cuts.

Accessibility Legislation Is Driving Market Opportunity

The European Accessibility Act (EAA), going into effect June 28, 2025, is reshaping how businesses design and deliver products and services. Covering everything from e-commerce and banking to smartphones and self-service kiosks, the Act opens a path to greater accessibility—and a larger customer base- with implications for businesses around the world:

  • Purpose: Enhances accessibility for people with disabilities and opens access to new customer markets.
  • Scope: Applies to all economic operators—manufacturers, importers, and distributors—selling to EU consumers.
  • Implementation: Effective June 28, 2025, for new products and services; includes a 5-year transitional period for some existing offerings.
  • In-Scope Products: Self-service terminals, smartphones, digital TV equipment, e-readers.
  • In-Scope Services: Audio-visual media, passenger transportation, banking, e-commerce.

Neuroinclusion Drives Long-Term Business Value

Disability:IN and EY previewed findings from their respective upcoming research on neurodiversity at work. The insights reveal that neuroinclusion drives agility, productivity, and long-term business value.

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  • Disability:IN’s report, coming July 2025, reveals that neurodivergent employees thrive in workplaces that value innovation, performance over social norms, and diverse thinking styles.
  • Neurodivergent talent excel at systems thinking, problem-solving, and creative reasoning that make work products more competitive.
  • EY’s report, being released in June 2025, shows that only 25% of neurodivergent professionals feel fully included at work.
  • Research from EY also shows that these employees report 49% higher skills in AI, big data, cyber, and leadership.

Accessibility Must be Embedded in the Architecture of Work

Digital and physical accessibility are no longer compliance checkboxes—they’re business imperatives. To drive impact, accessibility must be embedded into across every area of work- into systems, decision-making, leadership, and day-to-day operations.

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  • Chief Accessibility Officers are emerging as strategic leaders across global enterprises.

  • Success in digital accessibility requires leadership education and engagement across all business units.

  • Training and policy materials should be concise—50% of readers disengage from sentences over 22 words.

  • For physical accessibility, companies should start by assigning key staff to assess current buildings and use that baseline knowledge to plan and implement modifications.

Accelerating Momentum

Businesses around the world are navigating an evolving landscape when it comes to accessibility and disability inclusion. Disability:IN is helping companies meet the moment.

Ready to join the conversation?

Special thanks to the European Roundtable hosts and sponsors: Bayer, Bloomberg, Everway, EY, Microsoft, Mobility Mojo, Salesforce, and Vispero.