EVERYBODY RECOGNISES THAT disabilities are a serious issue, but many innovations designed for disabled people also have the potential to make life better for the non-disabled, including older drivers.
Jaguar Land Rover has pledged to work even more closely with disabled people as it joins a global movement dedicated to addressing disability inclusion in business.
Britain’s largest automotive manufacturer has committed to doing more research with disabled people to help future vehicles better meet their needs. Indirectly, we see that developing technology and the improvements that come with it as having the potential to help a much wider cross-section of the community, including making driving more convenient and sustainable for people as they age.
The pledge comes as the company signs up to become a member of The Valuable 500, an international organisation founded by campaigner and social entrepreneur Caroline Casey, who is legally blind. The Valuable 500 aims to unlock the value of people living with disabilities across the world by placing disability inclusion at the top of business leadership agendas.
Prof Sir Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover CEO, said: “We are proud to join The Valuable 500 because Jaguar Land Rover understands the importance of making our business and our products more inclusive. We are committed to creating experiences people love, for life – and that absolutely includes disabled people.”
“It’s why we have been the presenting partner of the Invictus Games for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women since it began in 2014. Everyone at Jaguar Land Rover is hugely passionate about that and now we pledge to do even more through The Valuable 500.”
Jaguar Land Rover will increase the amount of research it conducts with disabled people under The Valuable 500 pledge. For example, engineers have already tested a prototype ‘mobility door’ that opens automatically as the driver approaches – technology that could help disabled people for whom a car is the main mode of transport. And, of course, such an innovation could be a boon to older drivers with mobility issues.
The Valuable 500 is building a global movement on inclusive business for the 1.3 billion people in the world with a disability. Founder Caroline Casey celebrated Jaguar Land Rover’s support as she and her sister Hilary, who also has the genetic visual impairment ocular albinism, drove for the very first time. They went off-road in a Range Rover Velar at the Land Rover Experience Centre at Eastnor Castle, Herefordshire, with an instructor providing an extra pair of eyes.
Caroline Casey, founder of The Valuable 500, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Jaguar Land Rover as the first automotive company to sign up to The Valuable 500, the first of a number of global automotive firms who will this year join our movement in creating leadership accountability that will take a definitive stand on disability inclusion in business.”
“We need things to change and the way to do that is to have business leadership and to remove the barriers for people with disabilities and their families to be valuable customers, suppliers, employees and members of the community. I greatly respect Jaguar Land Rover’s commitment to this journey of continuous improvement.”
“We would also love to see other industry sectors focus on this huge opportunity and join The Valuable 500 to end disability exclusion in business once and for all.”
If you’d like to learn more about issues affecting older drivers, retirement, health, superannuation, travel and much, much more, subscribe to YourLifeChoices (it’s free) at https://www.yourlifechoices.com.au/ and listen to the podcast (including interviews with seniordriveraus) hosted by Kaye Fallick and John Deeks at https://www.yourlifechoices.com.au/podcasts/mind-your-own-retirement