Social enterprises creating a more disability-inclusive society

On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, recognised annually on 3 December, we highlight the importance of building disability-inclusive societies where everyone can contribute to creating positive change and driving social progress.

According to the World Health Organisation, about 1.3 billion people, or nearly 16% of the global population, live with various physical, sensory, intellectual, or mental health disabilities. Despite their diverse abilities, many faces systemic barriers, including economic inequality, limited access to decent work, barriers to independence and dignity, and unequal access to assistive technologies and inclusive environments.

At IKEA, we strive to create a better everyday life for the many people, including people with disabilities, by making sure that everyone is included. At IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, we support social enterprises around the world that create pathways for people with disabilities to fully engage in society, driving both social and economic progress. We believe that inclusion is more than accessibility, it’s about building societies where everyone can contribute, learn, and grow.

Today, we’re proud to showcase four social enterprises we’ve supported that are empowering people with disabilities to achieve their full potential and contribute to society.

Inclusive learning for Deaf and visually impaired children

Globally, more than 70 million Deaf people face challenges accessing education and healthcare because of communication barriers, and only 2% of Deaf children worldwide receive education in sign language. Motion Light Lab was founded by Melissa Malzkuhn, who is third-generation Deaf and comes from a family of gifted storytellers. The enterprise applies digital innovations to solve communication barriers for Deaf children. The lab creates educational apps and training programmes that both support Deaf learners and enable Deaf creators to develop additional American Sign Language (ASL) resources. Founded in 2009 and based in the United States, its initiatives have reached 10 countries and resulted in over 50,000 app downloads.

Tie Wang Jones, Global Head of Inclusive Design & Accessibility at IKEA, and the IKEA co-workers who supported Motion Light Lab through the Dela III Programme, shared that genuine curiosity, rather than perfection, is key to inclusive collaboration. She believes that encouraging open dialogue, asking questions, and sharing perspectives builds trust and deepens understanding of accessibility and the assumptions we make about others. “I was afraid to ask the wrong questions, but creating a safe space for curiosity and vulnerability helped us overcome that fear,” said Tie. She also added that this experience has positively influenced her work at IKEA, guiding her team in integrating accessibility and neurodiversity into digital design and hiring practices.

Together with Ashoka, we proudly supported Motion Light Lab, assisting them in defining funding and impact strategies to reach more Deaf children and visual learners and to support their full inclusion in society.

Creating inclusive spaces for all abilities

Todo Accessible is driven by the belief: “the more you include, the more you grow.” Founded in Mexico, the organisation found that in 2022, 70% of people with disabilities were unemployed due to barriers in infrastructure, technology, and societal attitudes. This inspired Todo Accessible to help businesses and people without disabilities understand disabilities and foster inclusion in social and work environments.

Todo Accessible uses multi-sensory solutions, evaluating new and existing buildings for accessibility in Mexico and Latin America, led by people with disabilities. They also focus on improving digital accessibility, providing employment support, and running workshops that promote Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) principles to educate people about disabilities and integrate inclusion into organisational operations.

Through the Dela V Programme with Ashoka, we’re proud to support Todo Accessible in creating inclusive spaces and inspiring other organisations to adopt IDEA principles.

Building skills and confidence for neurodiverse adults

LemmeLearn, founded by Eileen Soon, who was inspired by inclusive practices during her studies in San Francisco, aims to bridge the gap in vocational training for people with disabilities in Malaysia. LemmeLearn empowers people, equips young adults with functional skills, promotes inclusion within the community, and supports adults with diverse abilities through vocational training, including social communication classes, work practice, and life skills training, to help them lead independent lives.

The enterprise supports students in securing paid internships or full-time employment. One of them is Jia Quan, a student at LemmeLearn was diagnosed with autism at 25 years old. Like many people with autism, he struggled to find long-term or permanent employment, not due to lack of skill, but because workplaces weren’t ready to support neurodiversity. He enrolled in LemmeLearn’s 8-month Work Prep Course. “LemmeLearn gave me a whole new space and a new opportunity to let me find my lost self-back”, says Jia Quan.

Currently, LemmeLearn is also working to gradually transform Pulau Tikus in Penang, Malaysia into an autism-friendly community. We supported Lemme Learn through the Social Enterprise Accelerator Malaysia (SEAM) programme, co-created with Biji-Biji Initiative, providing mentorship by IKEA co-workers, funding, and networking opportunities to strengthen their impact and promote more inclusive communities in Malaysia.

Empowering people with disabilities through sustainable farming

Located in northwestern Poland, Juchowo Farm is a pioneering farming initiative focused on sustainable development, social inclusion, and revitalising rural life. Not only do they make incredible breads, cheeses and other products available in supermarkets across the country, but in 2018, Juchowo Farm also founded a vocational development centre for people with disabilities. Here, they gain knowledge and skills — particularly in organic agriculture and food processing — build confidence, develop practical abilities, and achieve greater independence, while also creating pathways to employment. Currently, Juchowo Farm employs 150 people, including 50 with different with disabilities.

In partnership with NESsT, we’re proud to support Juchowo Farm in promoting social inclusion and creating equal opportunities for all.

On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we’re reminded that building inclusive societies is not only a matter of equality. It’s about giving everyone the opportunity to grow, contribute, and thrive. Let’s create a world where everyone belongs and can reach their full potential together.