Baker McKenzie and Valuable 500 today announce the launch of the Global Disability Legislation Index, a first-of-its-kind resource providing comprehensive analysis of disability legislation across over 100 countries. Introduced at SYNC25 in Tokyo and developed through an unprecedented pro bono collaboration, the Index represents over 1,400 hours contributed by 350+ volunteers from more than 50 organizations worldwide.
The Index addresses a critical gap in global disability inclusion efforts: the lack of accessible, comparative information on disability legislation across jurisdictions. For the first time, employers and employees alike can access consistent guidance on important topics, including definitions of disability, mental health and neurodiversity inclusion, reasonable accommodation requirements and leading case law across Asia-Pacific, EMEA and the Americas.
“This resource transforms how businesses can approach disability inclusion globally. For too long, companies have operated without a comprehensive understanding of the legal landscape across their markets. This Index provides that clarity while making it equally clear that compliance is the floor, not the ceiling. We're giving employers and employees the tools to understand their rights and responsibilities, and to build truly inclusive workplaces that go far beyond minimum standards.” — Katy Talikowska, Valuable 500 CEO
The Index was developed through Baker McKenzie's Justice in Action pro bono model — a collaborative volunteering approach that brings together legal and business professionals to tackle complex research projects. Over two intensive sessions in June and October 2025, more than 350 volunteers from Valuable 500 member companies and the wider legal community participated in online training and research workshops.
“What surprised us most during this project was how much the definitions of disability are evolving and broadening globally, increasingly including neurodiversity and mental health. But we also saw how limited case law remains in many jurisdictions. Laws don't create change on their own — it's legal professionals who bring it to life. This resource is designed to be a starting point for companies to ask better questions, make meaningful comparisons between jurisdictions and ultimately raise standards. We’re proud to have partnered with Valuable 500 to produce this important resource.” — Angela Vigil, Global Pro Bono Partner and Executive Director of the Pro Bono Practice, Baker McKenzie
The resource highlights significant variations in disability legislation worldwide, including evolving quota systems, differing standards of reasonable accommodation and varying approaches to defining disability itself. By enabling cross-country comparison, the Index provides a tool for advocacy and policy development alongside practical compliance guidance.
Key features of the Global Disability Legislation Index include the following:
- Comprehensive coverage across more than 100 jurisdictions
- Consistent methodology ensuring comparable data across all countries
- Detailed source documentation for further research and verification
- Analysis of definitions, protections, reasonable accommodation requirements and enforcement mechanisms
- Accessible format designed for both legal and non-legal users
“Launching the Global Disability Legislation Index at SYNC25 in Tokyo marks a historic step for disability inclusion in business worldwide. This project began as a vision to empower companies everywhere with clear, actionable legal knowledge — and through the dedication of hundreds of volunteers, it has become a reality. We’re proud that Baker McKenzie could help lead this global effort, and this is only the beginning. With this resource, we’re setting a new standard for accountability and collaboration. I encourage every organization to use this tool not just for compliance, but to drive innovation, foster inclusion and build workplaces where everyone can thrive. Together, we’re making real progress and I’m excited to see how far we can go.” — Takeshi Yoshida, Partner, Baker McKenzie Tokyo
The launch of the Index follows SYNC25, the world's first accountability summit on disability inclusion in business, where the resource was unveiled to C-suite leaders from prominent global companies.
The Global Disability Legislation Index is available here.