A 4-year-old Beauden Baumkirchner is appearing in a new advertising campaign for Gap Kids wearing leg prosthetics.
A 4-year-old Beauden Baumkirchner is appearing in a new advertising campaign for Gap Kids.

Shifting the Narrative on Disability Representation: The Power of Inclusive Marketing

The Importance of Authentic Disability Representation and Extending Inclusive Marketing to Other Marginalized Communities

Darren Bates
2 min readFeb 23, 2023

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Inclusive marketing has the potential to not only shift the narrative on disability representation but also to promote greater understanding, empathy, and inclusion. By educating the public about disability and promoting positive representations of disabled people, inclusive marketing can help to create a more equitable and just society for all. As more brands and companies embrace inclusive marketing, we can hope for a future where diversity and representation are truly valued and celebrated in all forms. However, it’s important to note that inclusive marketing should not just be a trend or a box to be checked. It must be an ongoing commitment to authentic disability representation.

It’s also about creating products and services that are designed to meet the needs of disabled people and showcasing disabled people in a positive and authentic light. This means going beyond short-term tokenistic representation and truly integrating disabled people into all aspects of a brand or company’s operations. From hiring practices to product design, inclusive marketing requires a holistic approach that values and celebrates diversity.

It’s also important to recognize that inclusive marketing is not just about disability representation. It extends to other marginalized communities, such as the LGBTQIA+ community. True support for these communities requires more than just a rainbow-hued post on social media during Pride month. It requires a year-round commitment to integration and social inclusion and a willingness to listen to and amplify the voices of marginalized communities.

Thank you. Pass it on.

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Darren Bates

Internationally recognized as a visionary thought leader in Global Accessibility and Disability Inclusion, Smart City Innovation and Human-Centered Urban Design