Hosted by Valuable 500, the Nothing Without Us Awards highlight a continued gap across the marketing industry. Despite disabled people representing 16% of the global population, only about 1% of ads feature disability representation. Award organizers noted that just 11 campaigns met eligibility criteria this year, underscoring the need for more accessible production processes and a deeper commitment to authentic portrayal.
SYNC25, the world’s first accountability summit on disability inclusion, also saw the launch of the Authentic Representation Tool (ART), a free resource designed to help brands benchmark and strengthen inclusive practices across leadership, production, culture, and creative output.
As the industry looks to 2026, the awards aim to set a clear standard for commercial campaigns and elevate work that reflects lived experience, equitable collaboration, and measurable impact.
