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Microsoft's Commitment

Awards & Recognition

Microsoft has worked for more than a decade to make our products more accessible to all people—including people with disabilities. We are proud to have been recognized for these efforts by disability organizations and others over the years. Following are some of the awards Microsoft has received for both our company policies and actions, and for our products.

2007 Awards

Corporate "Stars" Award—from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Microsoft was honored for it's commitment to ending Multiple Sclerosis through its technology innovations that benefit people living with MS, October 26, in Dallas at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society's annual conference. More information

2005 Awards

Corporate Employer of the Year Award—from the Washington State Governor's Committee on Disability Issues and Employment, November 1, in Redmond, Washington. The award recognized Microsoft for its "outstanding contributions to increase the employment of people with disabilities in Washington State." The Governor's Committee has recognized private, public, and non-profit businesses that hire and promote employees with disabilities for the past sixteen years. More information

Business Champion Award—from the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) April 25, at the Legislative and Business Awards Breakfast in Washington, D.C. Microsoft was recognized for its "support of the national network and its ongoing commitment to the employment of people with disabilities as part of your vision of diversity." CSAVR is a membership organization comprised of the Directors of the 80 VR programs across the country, in the territories (such as Guam and Puerto Rico) and in the District of Columbia.

2004 Awards

Investor in Human Capital Award—from the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum in November 2004. Microsoft General Manager in Bulgaria Teodor Milev says, "This award recognizes our commitment to extend the benefits of technology to people with visual disabilities. We are very proud to support our partners in this project. Their work is vital for the social inclusion of this community and supports its members in using their spiritual force and intellectual power to bridge physical difficulties." More information

New Freedom Initiative Award—from U.S. Department of Labor, October 25. The New Freedom Initiative Award recognizes exemplary and innovative efforts to train, recruit, and hire people with disabilities. The New Freedom Initiative is a comprehensive set of proposals designed to give people with disabilities the opportunity to fully participate in all aspects of community life, including employment. More information

2003 Awards

Award of Distinction—from US Department of Health & Human Services. Microsoft was honored October 30, along with six individuals, recognizing October's National Disability Employment Awareness Month. According to the HHS press release, "Microsoft Corporation has been a national leader in employing persons with disabilities, and in the development and promotion of software that meets the assistive technology needs of persons with disabilities." More information

Telly Awards—Corporate Image Category. Five individual vignettes from the "Microsoft Accessibility: Technology for Everyone" video received Telly Awards in the 2003 competition. These video case studies feature professionals with disabilities pursuing successful and satisfying careers in business and government using a wide range of accessible technology. The Telly Awards is a highly respected national competition showcasing and recognizing outstanding non-network and cable commercials, film, and video productions. More information

New Freedom Awards—from the Jim Mullen Foundation. Microsoft was honored with two awards: Best New Freedom Research (accessibility) and Best New Freedom Product (Windows) at the first annual Jim Mullen Foundation New Freedom Awards event held at Navy Pier in Chicago on July 22. The New Freedom Awards recognize those who create extraordinary new freedoms for Americans with special needs. More information

Special Recognition Award—from Telecommunications for the Deaf, Inc. (TDI). On July 16th, Microsoft was recognized among 12 companies and two educational institutions for "extraordinary efforts in promoting equal access to telecommunications and media for consumers who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, late-deafened or deaf-blind." According to the organization, "TDI commends Microsoft for its special commitment and allocation of resources over the years to introduce and offer accessible and useable software applications for all Americans. With this technology, deaf and hard-of-hearing Americans can fulfill their potential as full, active participants in the general mainsteam—regardless of differences in culture, language and communication."

IT Works Ability Awards—Accommodations Category—from the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), in cooperation with the Law, Health Policy & Disability Center at the University of Iowa. "Microsoft Corporation won an award in the category of Accommodations, because of its deep commitment to supporting its employees with disabilities and ensuring that they are an integral part of the Microsoft workforce." The IT Works Ability Awards were established to stimulate interest in employing individuals with disabilities and to give public recognition to IT firms that have developed effective strategies that promote the employment and advancement of people with disabilities.

2002 Awards

Apple of Our Eye Business Award—from Dayle McIntosh Center. The award honors and celebrates individuals, agencies and businesses for their contributions toward the Independent Living philosophy.

Corporate Best Practices Award and Corporate Leader Award—from Dallas Mayor's Committee for the Employment of People with Disabilities to Microsoft CEO and President Steve Ballmer and Microsoft Corporation. The Dallas Mayor's Committee for the Employment of People with Disabilities honors Dallas citizens and companies committed to assisting individuals with disabilities in pursuing employment goals.

Louis Braille Gold Medal—from the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) and the World Blind Union. Presented to Bill Gates, Microsoft chairman and chief software architect, in recognition of Microsoft Canada's contribution to helping develop a digital library system for the CNIB. A key component to the digital library is the Children's Discovery Portal, the world's first Internet portal for children who are blind or visually impaired. The medal is awarded to individuals who have made an exemplary commitment to advancing the rights and freedoms of blind people around the world. More information

2001 Awards

2001 TASH Award—for Microsoft's video "Windows of Opportunity." This award honors presentations in print, film or other forms of media, which promote the images of people with significant disabilities in all aspects of community life. Criteria for selection includes: emphasis on inclusion or civil rights aspects of issues or stories; supports self-determination and or independent living philosophy; promotes empowerment; values the civic participation of individuals with disabilities; contributes to the shaping of positive images and helps to eliminate stereotypes by accurately portraying people with disabilities; people with disabilities are the primary source(s) of information; accessible (must be available in alternate format such as captioned, large print, etc.); portrays diversity.

2001 Media Access Award—from the California Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, for the Microsoft video "Windows of Opportunity." Since 1978 the California Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities has been honoring the entertainment and media industries with the Media Access Awards. Recipients are honored for their efforts in promoting: awareness of the disability experience, accurate character portrayals, innovative themes, accessibility, increased employment in the industry, non-traditional casting, and depiction of the diverse American scene.

2001 Awards

Eagle Award—from Disability Rights Advocates (DRA). Microsoft was selected as a recipient for spearheading the "Able to Work" Consortium along with the National Business and Disability Council, and for the company's commitment to developing accessibility features in all of its software.

Ron Mace Designing for the 21st Century Award—from Adaptive Environments. In recognition of Microsoft's work in making Windows and other software accessible to the broadest range of users, including users with disabilities. The award is given to organizations that excel in universal design concepts—a worldwide design movement to make products, environments and communication usable to the greatest extent possible by the broadest spectrum of users.

Corporate Sponsorship Award—from Easter Seals. For continued support for Easter Seals including a $1 million software grant in 1999 that was used to build an internal network for Easter Seals' 105 affiliates and 430 program service sites. The software grant also helped Easter Seals give children with disabilities training and computer assistive technology in their schools and to expand adult employment training. More information

Golden Ladder Award—from WE Magazine, a lifestyle publication for people with disabilities. Microsoft was recognized among 10 companies that "go above and beyond what is required in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) when it comes to recruiting and accommodating employees with disabilities." More information

1999 Awards

Outstanding Achievement Award—from United Nations International Day of Disabled Persons. Presented to Microsoft for the documentary, "ENABLE:  People with Disabilities and Computers."

Corporation of the Year Award—from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Given in recognition for Microsoft's support, including a $2 million grant that allowed the Society to focus other critical resources on its mission:  research and programs for people with multiple sclerosis. More information

Hammer Award—from the National Partnership for Reinventing Government (NPR). Microsoft representatives were among the team members led by the Department of Education who devised comprehensive requirements for accessible software design. Representatives from Trace Research and Development and IBM, were also honored with Hammer awards as members of the same team.

Private Sector Employer of the Year—from CAREERS & the disABLED magazine. The magazine, established in 1986, is the nation's first and only career-guidance and recruitment magazine for people with disabilities who are at undergraduate, graduate, or professional levels. Award given for Microsoft's commitment to the recruitment, hiring, and promotion of people with disabilities in the workplace.

1998 Awards

Partner Award—from National Business & Disability Council. Microsoft recognized for "leading the business community in realizing the benefits of diversity." The NBDC is a leading national resource on all issues related to the successful employment and integration of individuals with disabilities into America's workforce. More information

1997 Awards

SHHH Award—from the Self Help for Hard of Hearing People Inc. (SHHH). SHHH, the nation's largest consumer organization for hard of hearing people, awarded Microsoft Corp. its top honor for progress in making multimedia software accessible to people with hearing loss. SHHH cited the company's commitment to working toward captioning all spoken commands and audio content. More information