Enabling the Workplace
Another in a series of Microsoft essays on technology and society highlights the company's commitment to accessible technology that helps people with disabilities lead productive and fulfilling lives.
Greg Smith is a lead software developer in Microsoft’s research group, and, like millions of Americans, he uses a personal computer throughout his working day to communicate, analyze information, access the Internet and write reports.
At one time, using a PC would have been almost impossible for Greg, who is quadriplegic and has very limited arm movement due to a football injury. But today, with a pointer attached to his right arm in lieu of a keyboard, and a "sip-and-puff" headset replacing his mouse, Greg works with his PC like anyone else.
A decade ago, PCs lacked the accessibility that today enables Greg and others with disabilities -- whether visual, mobility, hearing, cognitive or language related -- to take advantage of the power of technology. Today, what makes Greg’s situation so remarkable is how unremarkable it is.
As PCs play an increasingly central role in the workplace and in people’s lives, accessibility features such as customizable screen magnification and alternative mouse and keyboard controls are being integrated into PC operating systems and widely available productivity software. In addition, assistive technologies such as screen readers, Braille output displays, speech-recognition software, speech synthesizers and text-telephone software enable people with disabilities to fully enjoy the benefits of technology.
In recognition of the importance of accessible technology, a new federal regulation -- Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998 -- goes into effect next month. Section 508 requires that all electronic and information technology systems purchased and maintained by federal agencies, including government-run Web sites, must be accessible to people with disabilities.
Section 508 will ensure that the 7 percent of the federal workforce—more than 160,000 government employees -- with disabilities can take advantage of the latest advancements in accessible technology. It will also ensure that, over time, Web sites hosted by U.S. government agencies -- 27 million Web pages and growing -- are accessible to Americans with disabilities. For people with hearing disabilities, Web sites with streaming video or audio files can offer closed captions or real-time captioning. For people who can’t use their hands to navigate with a mouse, Web sites can be made compatible with assistive devices such as joysticks or puff straws. And proper design of text and graphics can make sites easier to navigate for people who have vision disabilities -- and for those who don’t.
Considering that the U.S. government is one of the largest purchasers in the world of IT products and services—an estimated $45 billion in fiscal year 2002 -- the new regulation will raise awareness of the value of providing accessible technologies in the workplace. In the United States alone, there are an estimated 54 million people with disabilities, including 8.5 million who want to work but remain unemployed.
Today, Microsoft’s Accessible Technology Group has more than 40 people working with product developers, assistive-technology companies and disability advocates to ensure that people with disabilities can use software developed by both Microsoft and other companies. For example, users of Windows 2000 and Windows XP will find an Accessibility Wizard that helps configure important accessibility options quickly and easily. And basic speech support in the forthcoming Office XP productivity suite will allow users to dictate text and navigate Office applications using voice commands via microphone.
Microsoft believes that Section 508 is good for industry, government and, most importantly, for people with disabilities. We are working closely with federal IT managers and technology-industry leaders to help the government prepare for and comply with the new standards. Our hope is that Section 508 will encourage more competition and innovation on accessibility features -- which in turn will lead to increased numbers of people with disabilities finding employment that suits their talents and skills.
The benefits will be universal. Despite a slowing economy, there is still a critical shortage of qualified workers in high tech and other key industries. In the years ahead, technology has the potential not only to create thousands of new jobs, but also to keep breaking down the barriers that in the past would have prevented people like Greg Smith from finding productive and fulfilling employment.
