Microsoft blog Empowering all people in the workplace
- employment is critical to a productive and purposeful life.
- the unemployment rate for people with disabilities, which is nearly double that of those without disabilities.
- We have the responsibility to come together – across industries, sectors and geographies – to create inclusive workplaces for all.
- Technology has an important role in empowering people at work, home and play.
- Similarly, organizations have a responsibility to support employees in an inclusive environment.
- Hire talent.
- Building an inclusive workplace starts with culture.Every person has a role to play in embracing inclusion. There are so many tools available for you as well as tools available you can use to empower others in the organization.
- Lean into the resources available. Inclusion in the workplace leads to innovation. Employers that are actively seeking out people with different viewpoints and backgrounds will have a greater opportunity to meet the needs of all their customers.
- Empower all employees in the workplace.
- Creating Inclusion through conversation.have conversations with existing and new employees to help managers and teams understand what employees need to be successful. Remember ~70% of disability is invisible.
- Check out features built into Windows and Office.
- Send inclusive accessible content.Next email you send a mail, PowerPoint you create, or in fact any Office365 document you’re working on - remember to use accessibility checker to ensure that your content is inclusive. It’s easy to do, just click on Accessibility Checker right next to Spell Check.
- Build innovative futures. Lean into the potential of AI.
- With rapid advancements in technologies, like AI and machine learning, we are creating accessible technology that can enable all workers to be productive in the workplace. That’s why we announced the five year, $25M AI for Accessibility program in May this year.
- We want to see more grant applications towards leveraging the power of AI to lower the unemployment rate for people with disabilities, that can impact modern life, and and the third challenge area: communication and connection. check out theAI for Accessibility website and submit your grant application.