Beyond Barriers: Inclusive Financial Design for People with Disabilities

TOPICS

Inclusive Digital Economies

FIW Year

2024

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Summary + Key Findings

The discussion highlights the importance of inclusive financial design for people with disabilities, focusing on employment challenges and the need for accessible solutions.

🌐 Diverse Perspectives: Including individuals with disabilities in decision-making processes enhances the design and effectiveness of financial solutions. Their unique insights can drive innovation and relevance.

📊 Invisible Barriers: Many disabilities are not visible, making it crucial for society to foster awareness and understanding to ensure inclusive practices are adopted universally.

🏛️ Regulatory Support: Effective regulations are necessary to ensure that financial institutions prioritize accessibility and inclusion in their services.

🎯 Skill Development: Financial education and upskilling are essential for individuals with disabilities to achieve economic independence and participate fully in society.

🔗 Community Engagement: Engaging with the disability community in creating solutions ensures that products and services are tailored to their needs and challenges.

💪 Empowerment through Opportunity: Providing access to employment and financial resources empowers individuals with disabilities, allowing them to contribute meaningfully to the economy.

🌱 Sustainable Growth: Fostering an inclusive environment not only benefits individuals with disabilities but also promotes sustainable economic growth for society as a whole.

This session summary was AI-generated using NoteGPT.

Watch Session:

This fireside chat brings together experts from Visa and IMInclusive, the first digital hub of inclusion in the Middle East and North Africa, to discuss the challenges and opportunities in financial inclusion for people with disabilities. The session will examine current market gaps, showcase successful initiatives in tailoring financial literacy and payment solutions, and outline strategies for developing user-centric financial tools that empower individuals with disabilities. Attendees will gain insights into how partnerships can drive innovation in inclusive financial design, ensuring that the needs of all consumers are prioritized in the financial services sector.

Session Speakers

Hafsa Qadeer

Social Entrepreneur, ImInclusive

Hafsa Qadeer is a social entrepreneur committed to finding humanitarian solutions through innovation and creative expression. She is the CEO and Founder of ImInclusive, the first inclusive employment platform in the history of the United Arab Emirates to receive certified social enterprise recognition from the national government. In 2019, at the age of 24, Hafsa presented ImInclusive, a job-search platform, and 360 disability inclusion employment solution, to the Abu Dhabi government alongside her 16-year-old brother Ahmed Qadeer, who is a person with a disability living with Spina Bifida. In 2023, ImInclusive has fully evolved into a multi-award-winning enterprise and provided employment opportunities to people with disabilities in healthcare, hospitality, retail, and more. Hafsa graduated from Middlesex University with a bachelor’s in International Business and holds a professional diploma in innovative marketing. She is a Visa She’s Next Innovative Solutions Winner and recognized as an Etisalat E& top three most ambitious startup founders of the UAE.

Carl Manlan

Vice President, Inclusive Impact and Sustainability, Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA), Visa

Carl focuses on enabling community impact with local, regional and global partners, co-creating partnerships that support Small and Medium Businesses, Individuals and households to thrive in the CEMEA region. Prior to Visa, Carl served as the Chief Operating Officer at Ecobank Foundation where he led the bank’s social impact work in 33 markets in Africa. Before Ecobank Foundation, Carl held various leadership roles at the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), Economic Commission for Africa, The Global Fund and UNDP. Carl holds an undergraduate degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Cape Town and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School. He is a Mo Ibrahim Foundation Fellow and an Aspen Institute New Voices Senior Fellow.

Flora Patricia Guzmán Mora

Sign Language Interpreter, Iminclusive

A proud Latin American, born and raised in Costa Rica, Flora is a passionate advocate for the Deaf community with over 30 years of experience. She holds a certification as a Sign Language interpreter and a postgraduate degree in Deaf Education. Flora interned at Gallaudet University, specializing in ASL interpretation, and served as an associate professor for the Costa Rican Sign Language Interpreter Training Program at the University of Costa Rica. Throughout her career, Flora has been a dedicated ally to Deaf communities, actively promoting Sign Language interpretation awareness and training in Costa Rica, the USA, and the UAE. She also coordinated the National Committee of Sign Language Interpreters for the National Association of the Deaf in Costa Rica. Since 2022, Flora has been part of the Deaf Inclusion Team at ImInclusive, where she continues her mission of advancing accessibility and inclusion. Beyond her professional work, Flora enjoys karaoke and is an active dragon boat paddler.

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