Spotlights by HRCap: Top 12 Business Leaders Championing Disability Inclusion in 2025
- noemy40
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Published by HRCap, Inc. on September 30, 2025
October marks National Disability Employment Awareness Month, an opportunity to recognize the achievements of professionals with disabilities and the transformative impact of inclusive workplaces.
Disability inclusion extends beyond compliance; it is a strategic imperative that drives innovation, cultivates leadership, and fosters equitable organizational cultures. The achievements of these leaders exemplify how vision, advocacy, and ingenuity can reshape industries while opening doors for diverse talent.
Through a combination of entrepreneurial spirit, policy advocacy, and innovative solutions, these individuals demonstrate that inclusion is both an ethical responsibility and a competitive advantage. Their work empowers professionals with disabilities, inspires organizational change, and illustrates how forward-thinking leadership can create meaningful, lasting impact.
Top 12 Business Leaders Championing Disability Inclusion
1. Joyce Bender
Joyce Bender is the Founder of Bender Consulting Services, Inc., Co-Founder of iDisability, and founder of the Bender Leadership Academy. She has dedicated her career to advancing disability inclusion in workplaces, helping organizations recruit, retain, and develop talent with disabilities.
Bender emphasizes empowerment and systemic change, inspiring companies to embrace accessibility as a core value. Her work demonstrates how strategic inclusion can elevate both people and organizations.
2. Haben Girma
Haben Girma is a disability rights advocate, staff attorney, award-winning author, and public speaker. She champions systemic change while amplifying the voices of people with disabilities in law, business, and society.
Girma inspires organizations to challenge assumptions and dismantle barriers, showing how inclusion and justice can shape the future of work and leadership.
Srikanth Bolla is the CEO of Bollant Industries, an enterprise focused on social impact and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. He has built a business model where inclusivity is central to growth and innovation.
Bolla champions equitable opportunity and entrepreneurial vision, showing that socially conscious leadership can transform communities and industries alike.
Becca Lory Hector is the Founder and managing member of Evolving Skye, LLC, where she blends entrepreneurial leadership with inclusive design. She focuses on building businesses that prioritize accessibility while driving sustainable growth.
Hector champions inclusive entrepreneurship and equitable business practices, showing that accessibility and innovation can thrive hand in hand. Her approach highlights how leadership with purpose shapes impactful organizations.
Diego Mariscal is the Founder, CEO, and Chief Disabled Person at 2Gether-International, where he leads global initiatives connecting businesses with people with disabilities. He develops programs that enhance accessibility and workplace inclusion worldwide.
Mariscal emphasizes collaboration and advocacy, inspiring organizations to remove barriers and cultivate inclusive cultures. His work illustrates the power of combining leadership with lived experience to drive change.
Martyn Sibley is the Co-Founder and CEO of Purple Goat Agency, a company creating accessible solutions for businesses and audiences. He is recognized internationally for his work promoting disability inclusion in corporate and creative spaces.
Sibley emphasizes innovation and empowerment, demonstrating that accessibility can enhance creativity and drive measurable business impact.
Catarina Rivera is the Founder of Blindish Latina, a platform that amplifies the voices of visually impaired professionals. She advocates for representation, accessibility, and opportunity in business.
Rivera emphasizes resilience and visibility, inspiring organizations to embrace inclusion as both a moral and strategic imperative.
8. Walter Tsui
Walter Tsui is the Co-Founder and CEO of CareER Association, which connects businesses with talent from the disability community. He develops programs that expand employment opportunities and advance equitable hiring practices.
Tsui emphasizes access and empowerment, showing how inclusive recruitment can strengthen organizations while promoting social change.
Joshua Wintersgill is the Founder of easyTravelseat, Co-Founder of ableFly, and Co-Founder of Rights on Flights. He develops tools and programs that make travel more accessible for people with disabilities.
Wintersgill emphasizes independence and empowerment, illustrating how technology and advocacy can create practical solutions that enhance inclusion globally.
10. Matt McCann
Matt McCann is the Co-Founder and CEO of Access Earth, a platform mapping accessibility worldwide. His work provides businesses and travelers with actionable tools to improve inclusion across the hospitality and tourism sectors.
McCann highlights the importance of equitable access and innovation, showing how technology can bridge gaps and create meaningful impact for people with disabilities.
11. Toshiya Kakiuchi
Toshiya Kakiuchi is the President of Mirairo Inc., a company developing accessible technology and inclusive design solutions. He focuses on creating products and services that are usable by everyone, regardless of ability.
Kakiuchi champions thoughtful innovation, demonstrating how inclusive design can enhance both customer experience and organizational culture.
12. Keely Cat-Wells
Keely Cat-Wells is the Founder and CEO of Making Space, a company designing workplaces that prioritize accessibility and well-being. Her work blends inclusive design with visionary leadership.
Cat-Wells highlights the value of thoughtful spaces, demonstrating that inclusive environments foster productivity, innovation, and meaningful workplace experiences.
Conclusion
These leaders provide a compelling example of how intentional inclusion elevates both people and organizations. By integrating accessibility into strategy, operations, and culture, they have shown that equitable practices are not only socially responsible but also critical to sustained growth and innovative transformation.
As businesses evolve, their work underscores that inclusion is a driver of opportunity, creativity, and resilience. Embracing accessibility strengthens organizations, enhances performance, and builds workplaces where all talent can thrive.
We invite all to join us in advancing comprehensive disability inclusion strategies that promote access, empower talent, and strengthen organizational culture so that access, belonging, and opportunity become cornerstones of every workplace culture for the future.
Sources: HRCap, LinkedIn, Bender Leadership Academy, SpeakerHub, Forbes, Purple Goat Agency, The Guardian, Startup Magazine, Disability Power 100, Zero Project, Mirairo Inc, CareER Association, World Institute on Disability, 2Gether-International, Time Magazine, UNE
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