Experts Discuss Disability Inclusion at WJA’s Las Vegas Breakfast
Members gathered Friday morning at JCK to hear from Diversability founder Tiffany Yu and Molly Kettle of Gamut Management.
Members gathered in the San Polo Ballroom Friday morning to hear from entrepreneur and disability rights advocate Tiffany Yu and GAMUT management Chief Operating Officer Molly Kettle on the types of mindset shifts needed, from designing adaptive jewelry to marketing jewelry and timepieces for people with disabilities.
Yu is the founder of Diversability, a social enterprise to advocate for equality for people with disabilities.
In 2020, she was the co-chair of the World Economic Forum Sustainable Development Impact Summit.
Started in 2019, GAMUT management is a consulting, talent management and accreditation company helping businesses to become “disability confident” in how they engage with, create adaptive products for, and represent people with disabilities. Yu is represented by the company as well.
To begin the breakfast, Yu presented and then the two joined a panel led by WJA Executive Director Jennifer Markas.
In her opening presentation, Yu recalled how, at 9 years old, she was in a car accident that left her paralyzed in one arm.
“You can either age into disability or it can happen very suddenly,” Yu said. “A lot of people will say that disability is one of these intersections and one of these communities that you can join at any time.”
Yu said disability is not just about the health condition; it’s the interaction with a person’s physical, external environment that creates a disability experience.
She cited the 2022 “Disability Impacts All of Us” report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which estimates that one in four American adults are living with a disability.
“We, as disabled people, actually control about $21 billion of discretionary income, which is more than the Black ($3 billion) and Latinx markets ($16 billion) combined,” Yu said.
“We’ve got some money and we want to spend it at your companies.”
Yu showed the audience a video of how she puts on a necklace, demonstrating how clasps can be difficult for people with certain disabilities.
She said adaptive design—things like curb cuts, electric toothbrushes, bendy straws and speech-to-text—while good for business, also are helpful for people, like moms with strollers, who don’t have a disability.
During the panel discussion, Kettle echoed that sentiment, stating that while there does need to be a shift in product design and marketing strategy, there’s also “an innovation aspect,” that everyone can benefit from an easier clasp.
“If we’re all lucky enough to age, we will probably join the disability community at some stage in our life,” Kettle said.
“If you want true change and you want to make more money, hire disabled people into your company.” — Tiffany Yu, Diversability
Also, people with different disabilities have different ways of engaging with products.
As an example, Yu shared the story of a company that created a tactile watch for someone with impaired sight.
“It has little bumps all on it where someone who is blind is able to wear the watch and be able to tell what the hour it is,” Yu said. “The interesting thing about that watch is, I still can’t put it on.
“What is inclusive and adaptive for one person might not be for another. And that highlights the diversity within disability. We all want to wear watches and we all want to know what time it is, but we all have different ways of engaging with that product.”
Adaptive products also should include cohesive marketing with disability representation.
“How inviting you are being? What kinds of products do you have to offer?” Kettle said. “There’s a whole new customer base you could reach by providing products those customers may need as well as targeting them in a different way.”
Yu prompted the audience to think, “If Tiffany is your archetype of customer, how would she engage with the product?”
For true inclusivity, intentionality is necessary at every level, including internally.
“I spend most of my time talking about disability at work because to me, that’s the place I think will create the biggest type of systemic change,” Yu said. “So, if you want true change and you want to make more money, hire disabled people into your company.”
Kettle reminded attendees that disability inclusion is a journey and a process, but what matters is the intentional effort and the willingness to listen to feedback.
“It’s thinking about it in your day-to-day, in your plans, in your strategies and what it looks like,” she said. “Wherever you are is OK.”
The WJA breakfast was sponsored by the Natural Diamond Council, Jewelers Vigilance Committee, Guild+Facet, V&A Group, SHR Jewelry Group and the JCK Industry Fund.
The Latest
All 74 lots of jewelry belonging to the late Democratic senator found buyers at Bonhams Los Angeles.
The two collaborated on a necklace and a pair of earrings that praise the beauty of Zambian emeralds.
Retailers can move jewelry care lines off countertops with the fixtures, which were designed for a “sophisticated retail environment.”
This fall, sharpen your skills in jewelry grading, quality control and diamond assessment.
The 20th ICA Congress is slated for May 19-22 in Brasília, Brazil.
The jeweler is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a throwback campaign.
“Memorie D’Archivio” was inspired by the “Mora” and “Mosaico” collections the brand introduced in the ‘90s.
Don't miss this one-stop-shop in October, curated with buyers’ needs in mind.
CEO William Lamb said divesting the diamond sales platform allows the company to focus on the underground expansion of Karowe.
It features 124 jewels and a variety of colored gemstones.
Ahead of the holiday season, Smith delves into the often subconscious reasons people buy luxury products for themselves or their loved ones.
The GMT-Master “Pepsi” belonging to astronaut Edgar Mitchell is a standout in RR Auction’s online “Space Auction,” going on now.
The ads celebrate the mall culture of the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Retail sales associates can access the video series on mobile to refresh their selling skills.
The November auction will feature a collection of jewels owned by Ferdinand I, the first king of modern Bulgaria, and his family.
Commercial production has begun underground at the Canadian diamond mine’s A21 pipe.
Deloitte and Adobe Analytics shared their insights on the season, from the retail sales forecast to the role of generative AI.
The Texas-based jeweler collaborated with luxury clothing brand Uncommon Man on men’s bands designed with European influences.
Industry players have found ways to cope with market conditions while working to reshape themselves in the face of emerging realities.
The sales event, in its second year, features a selection of rare diamonds from the miner’s Argyle and Diavik diamond mines.
A portion of the proceeds from the “Always Dream” collection will go to Yamaguchi's foundation, supporting early childhood literacy.
The first in what is slated to be a series of in-depth reports from the consulting company, it focuses on shortening supply chains.
The company said Benjamin Clymer will return to his role as head of the watch news website, which will maintain editorial independence.
A strong economy, a growing middle class with an affinity for brands, and rapid expansion of organized retail have fueled the market’s rise.
The industry veteran is also the president-elect of the Women’s Jewelry Association.
Slither into spooky season with this scary snake ring that boasts two heads with tsavorite eyes.
Ladell Tharpe, 39, took part in a 2022 jewelry store robbery and then posted pictures of cash on Instagram with the text “Robbery Gang.”