Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology company that develops, manufactures, licenses, supports and sells computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services. Its best known software products are the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, the Microsoft Office suite, and the Internet Explorer and Edge web browsers.
Read more: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/
Representation and empowerment of persons with disabilities
Microsoft is committed to reducing stigma and discrimination by amplifying the strengths of people with disabilities through a culture of disability inclusion and awareness of accessibility.
Timeframe and/or implementation plan: Microsoft will launch a month-long destigmatizing campaign in October 2018. Within the company, we promote self-identification of disability through employee storytelling and awareness of disability facts, history, and culture. Externally, we share the stories of our customers, similar to our 2017 Inclusion in Action series.
Additional resources and implementation
Microsoft is committed to empowering teachers and students to achieve more through accessible classroom tools.
Timeframe and/or implementation plan:Throughout 2018 and beyond, Microsoft will continue to improve upon our accessible technology as a means to empower teachers and students with disabilities. For example, Learning Tools are inclusively designed capabilities in Office 365 and Edge with Windows 10 that improve reading and writing experiences for people with learning disabilities like dyslexia, emerging readers and new language learners.
Inclusive environments in the workplace
Microsoft is committed to growing a diverse workforce that includes people with disabilities, both internally at Microsoft and externally. By creating accessible inclusive technologies, Microsoft strives to empower people with disabilities to obtain, retain, and advance in employment opportunities across the globe.
Timeframe and/or implementation plan: Microsoft will continue to build our Inclusive Hiring strategy, which includes systemic and programmatic hiring of people with disabilities across all jobs and geographies. Systemically, we will continue to create inclusive processes and practices, such as targeted sourcing of candidates with disabilities, centralized accommodation process, and our Disability Employee Resources Group. Our programmatic approach includes our Autism Hiring Program and Supported Employment Program. We commit to sharing our learnings with other employers in furtherance of disability employment.
Join Global Partnership for Assistive Technology
Microsoft commits to joining the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology to collaborate with other entities in pursuit of global disability inclusion and accessibility.
Timeframe and/or implementation plan: By joining the Global partnership for Assistive Technology, we strive to collaborate on the promotion of accessible technologies for all in the modern workplace and beyond. For example, Xbox Copilot feature allows two controllers to act as if they were one, making Xbox gaming more inviting and easier for gamers who need unique configurations to play i.e hands apart, hand and chin, hand and foot, etc. The Xbox Adaptive Controller connects to external buttons, switches, joysticks and mounts, allowing gamers with a wide range of abilities to customize their setup.