The third Thursday of May each year is Global Accessibility Awareness Day, a day to talk, think, and learn about accessibility.

More than 1.3 billion people in the world*, or one in six, are reported to have some form of disability. As such, Sony is promoting accessibility as a part of its sustainability initiatives throughout the entire Group, under the theme "Delivering innovation for an accessible future."

Our long-term Creative Entertainment Vision, announced last year, provides an overview of where Sony wants to be in 10 years and consists of three phases. One of these is "Boundaries Transcended," which aims to connect diverse people and values, and foster communities.

Hiroki Totoki, President and CEO of Sony Group Corporation, states, "We believe that understanding diverse needs is essential for connecting with creators and users around the world and supporting their creativity. Our efforts in accessibility and inclusion are the foundation of a society where diverse people and values can intersect, evolve, and thrive. Sony strives to create a future where everyone can be themselves, expand their potential, and experience Kando - a sense of emotional connection and excitement."

To include and understand diverse user needs and gain new insights, we incorporate inclusive design, a method of designing together with diverse users, with the goal of improving the accessibility of our products, services, and entertainment.

Inclusive design is a new value creation initiative that seeks to enhance accessibility for a wide range of people by engaging in dialogue and activities, primarily with elderly individuals and people with disabilities. These are groups that have historically required greater accessibility and have often been unintentionally excluded from product development. Sony is promoting this initiative across the entire Group, transcending business boundaries.

The Sony Inclusive Design Workshop in the UK

So far, Sony has regularly held workshops on inclusive design for its employees in Japan, with over 2,000 employees of various positions and backgrounds participating in total (as of December 2024). Starting in September 2024, we implemented a program called the "Sony Inclusive Design Workshop" in the UK, with the goal of expanding the initiative globally. This program was developed in collaboration with the U.S. non-profit organization, Open Style Lab, which promotes the inclusion of people with disabilities, to raise each employee's awareness of inclusive design by incorporating the perspectives of co-creators with disabilities.

Employees from diverse business areas, including Music, Pictures, and Entertainment Technology & Services, formed mixed teams with co-creators with disabilities. Guided by the real-life experiences and advice of these co-creators, participants explored ways to improve products, services, and experiences, including how Sony approaches entertainment and meets audience expectations.

The Sony Assistive Musical Instrument Hackathon in the UK

Additionally, Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) hosted the Sony Assistive Musical Instrument Hackathon in September 2024 in the UK.

The inclusive orchestra organization Paraorchestra, composed of a diverse range of musicians of all abilities, was formed in partnership with UK-based organizations such as Drake Music, Watershed, and MyWorld, all of which are pioneers in accessible music technology (technology designed for ease of use for everyone, regardless of their abilities, enabling broader participation in musical activities).

At the hackathon, participants designed and developed instruments with cutting-edge accessibility in mind, with the aim of creating a world where everyone can enjoy music. The hackathon was primarily affiliated with Drake Music along with professional musicians from Paraorchestra and participants included Sony Group employees from various business segments.

Below are video interviews featuring participants and co-creators from these events, sharing their thoughts on accessibility and inclusive design.

Moving forward, Sony will continue to practice inclusive design globally across the Group, further enhancing accessibility and delivering new experiences and Kando (emotion) to creators and users with diverse needs around the world.