May 30, 2025 | Inside Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters celebrated Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) a few weeks ago by exploring the deep connection between our Trust Principles and accessibility. Colleagues from across the globe, including India, the UK, the US, and Canada, came together virtually to share knowledge and experiences that reinforced how accessibility directly embodies our organizational values.

Our Digital Accessibility team, in partnership with the Disability Employee Network, designed an engaging program that went beyond awareness to inspire concrete action. Here’s how our GAAD 2025 events brought accessibility to life.

Insights from Experts: Accessibility as Strategic Advantage

In his thought-provoking keynote, Senior Accessibility Manager, Peter Bossley revealed how accessibility reinforces our principles of integrity and inclusivity. He shared our strategic roadmap, including the implementation of enterprise-level standards and automated testing, while emphasizing that creating accessible experiences requires commitment from everyone.

Two expert panels challenged conventional thinking by showcasing accessibility as a business advantage. Sharing real-world success stories, the panelists illustrated how inclusive design enhances customer satisfaction, minimizes legal risks, and creates more intuitive user experiences. Attendees left with practical strategies for integrating accessibility into their daily work, from inclusive user research to ongoing education and engagement.

Innovation in Action: Universal Design, Artificial Intelligence, and Beyond

Several sessions tackled everyday accessibility challenges, showing how seemingly small design decisions, like enhanced color contrast or quality captioning, can dramatically improve digital experiences for users with visual, auditory, cognitive, and motor impairments. These practical examples reinforced why accessibility must be built in from the beginning, not added as an afterthought.

The Technology for A11y session further emphasized the critical importance of building accessibility into products from the start. Attendees learned about web accessibility principles and gained hands-on experience with assistive technologies like screen readers. Practical skill development continued with sessions on creating accessible PowerPoint presentations, including key content and visual accessibility guidelines, and tips for presenting information effectively via Microsoft Teams.

Multiple sessions explored how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing accessibility. Presenters showcased tools like Be My Eyes and ChatGPT that help visually impaired users navigate their environments and understand visual content. For those with speech or communication challenges, technologies like Google’s Parrot Run and Project Activate demonstrated new interaction possibilities through speech conversion and eye gestures.

Powerful Perspectives: Learning Through Lived Experience

The personal perspective of accessibility was illustrated when a Senior Accessibility Specialist shared his journey with blindness, demonstrating how AI-powered tools have enhanced his professional capabilities and independence, from identifying musical instruments to improving gaming accessibility and managing daily routines.

Another Senior Accessibility Specialist shared her experiences with epilepsy and challenged common misconceptions, with part of her session focused on seizure first aid guidance provided by the Epilepsy Foundation.

These genuine accounts transformed theoretical concepts into tangible realities, reinforcing why inclusive design matters at a human level and reaffirming our commitment to creating products and environments that work for everyone.

Making a Difference: Accessibility Beyond Our Walls

Our commitment to accessibility extends well beyond our products and workplace. Our team in India’s recent Best Employment Generation Initiative award for their Livelihood Program is a prime example. This program has empowered 25 individuals with disabilities through training, mobility solutions, and employment. Our partnership with Impact Guru Foundation puts our Trust Principles in action, creating lasting positive change in our communities.

The message throughout GAAD 2025 was clear: at Thomson Reuters, accessibility isn’t just something we do, it’s who we are. It’s the thread that connects our values to our actions and our principles to our products.