Disability can be a superpower: Unlocking opportunities at the Asia Accessibility Summit
How often do slide presentations include pictures? The answer is – nearly always.
This is just one everyday example of how a person with a disability may be excluded from accessing information.
Of the one billion people worldwide who live with a disability – that’s one in seven of us – 70 per cent live in the Asia Pacific region. And while our region is digitally transforming at speed, with schools, workplaces, government services and shops moving online, these people are at risk of being left behind.
The sobering truth is that in the Asia Pacific region, just one in 10 people with a disability have access to technology. Not only are people with disability more likely to experience poverty, they are also less likely to have the means to transcend it.
When it comes it comes to finding a job, seeking educational opportunities or building a network, the digital world is where the action is – and the digital divide is causing many to miss out.
As a major technology provider and employer in our region, it’s in Microsoft ANZ’s power to do more. That’s why we’ve been channelling our energies into creating a world that’s accessible to all.
Sparking an important conversation
Accessibility is a complex topic, and no one person has all the answers. That’s why Microsoft is investing in important conversations and partnerships – we want to start an ongoing dialogue about how to ensure people with disabilities have equal access to digital opportunities.
In that vein, we held our first Asia Accessibility Summit in December 2021.
The first event of its kind, the theme was ‘Reimagining Ease of Living for Persons with Disabilities in the Hybrid World’. The one-day virtual seminar was a platform open to everyone, where accessibility professionals, allies and the community could devise an action plan to help overcome the digital divide.
We heard from people such as Hector Minto, Director and Lead Accessibility Evangelist for Microsoft. It was inspiring to hear about Minto’s work at the leading edge of solutions that empower people with speech, language and vision impairments.
To find out more about the importance of targeted upskilling and internship programs for people with disability, we also heard from members of Microsoft’s recruitment team. And for a bit of fun, Anita Mortaloni, Director of Accessibility for Xbox, held a live, inclusive gaming session!
Getting real when it comes to employment
A key theme of the summit was the imperative to improve job opportunities for people with disability.
“We are actively opening doors to talent with disabilities,” says Jenny Lay-Flurrie, Chief Accessibility Officer. “And when I say active, it doesn’t just mean everything on every application form is accessible, we also have very specific hiring programmes that go after talent.
“The unemployment rate is double that for people with disabilities than for people without,” she reveals. “Yet we know that the talent is there. We know that the talent is rich. So working together, building ideas, thoughts and partnerships to overcome this issue is our goal. And most importantly, we want to include people with disabilities throughout the process.”
One of many strategies Lay-Flurrie is referring to is Microsoft’s neurodiversity hiring program. As people with autism can find the traditional interview format challenging, the hiring program gives applicants the option of attending week-long, skills-focused workshops as an alternative.
This more inclusive way of approaching recruitment has proven incredibly successful, resulting in over 100 employees with autism joining the company globally in over 12 different divisions.
Breaking through barriers
After the success of last year’s events, more summits are on Microsoft ANZ’s horizon. We want to continue to fuel conversations about the many ways that we can all make our world more inclusive.
Whether it’s by changing the way we hire, by hearing from those with lived experience or by rethinking the meaning of accessible technology, our mission at Microsoft is to empower every person on the planet achieve more – and that means everyone.
As Ahmed Mazhari, President of Microsoft Asia, says, “Inclusion is a human right.”