Accessibility is Pervasive at Microsoft®

By Joan Leotta

Computer users around the world recognize the Microsoft® Corporation as a business leader in the high tech industry. Microsoft Office, MSN and Microsoft Internet Explorer are a few of the products highly regarded as industry standards in computing and Web browsing software. Yet even before Microsoft earned such an unprecedented customer base, company leaders have understood that the needs of computer users with disabilities are different and important.

From the earliest collaborations in 1988, Microsoft has prioritized accessibility issues in technology design. From Windows 2.0 on, Microsoft design principles have included consideration for users with a variety of disabilities. Since that time, company-wide accessibility awareness has extended from technology product groups to human resources to community affairs. For its broad disability awareness business imperative, the Solutions Marketing Group has chosen Microsoft for this month's Profile in Excellence.

Realizing potential through technology, Microsoft takes seriously the responsibility that accompanies providing accessible products. The company strives toward a corporate mission of enabling people in all aspects of life to achieve their fullest capabilities. For people with disabilities, this means incorporating accessibility into the design process.

According to Ellen Mosner, Public Affairs Manager for Microsoft's Accessible Technology Group (ATG), "From a single full-time staff position that oversaw accessibility issues in 1992, Microsoft's Accessibility Technology Group (ATG) has grown to nearly 40 employees and consultants who work with product developers, assistive-technology vendors, and disability advocates to ensure that people with disabilities can use computer technologies produced by Microsoft and other IT companies." Mosner added, "ATG works closely with various product groups at Microsoft to ensure that accessibility is considered from the first design stages through product upgrade cycles. They accomplish this by incorporating advice from users with disabilities, including the Microsoft Accessibility Advisors and beta testers who fit certain user profiles. Microsoft strives to incorporate customer feedback in product development as well."

The ATG also provides comprehensive information on accessible technology on Microsoft's Web site (www.microsoft.com/enable); participates in key disability and accessibility conferences including CSUN Technology and Persons with Disabilities, and Closing the Gap; and publishes a monthly accessible technology newsletter that, in addition to running topical stories and an events calendar, describes Microsoft product accessibility features, provides product documentation in accessible formats, and includes a catalog of assistive technology designed for Windows operating systems.

Mosner explains that on the company's Web site, visitors with disabilities will also find a broader array of assistive technology products from a number of vendors in Microsoft's Assistive Technology Catalog Vendors who partner with the software giant in the Microsoft Assistive Technology Vendor Program (MATvp) receive enhanced technical support and increased access to Microsoft technology code to help integrate innovative products with the company's leading platforms. More than 70 AT vendors have already joined MATvp.

Accelerating government standards

In another partnership designed to increase usability of computer technologies among the disability community, Microsoft has collaborated with the U.S. government and other industry leaders to raise awareness about Section 508 standards. A 1998 amendment to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 508 requires federal agencies to make their electronic information technology accessible to people with disabilities. Microsoft participated in the development of the VPAT (voluntary product accessibility template), which allows a company to describe how a product supports or doesn't support each of the Section 508 technical criteria.

Recruitment...

Providing accessibility features so that people with disabilities can use computer technology is only part of Microsoft's disability-inclusive diversity commitment. Another way in which the company strives to help people reach their full potential is through recruitment, hiring, and employee accommodations. In particular, company leaders have demonstrated a strong desire to increase the employment and employability of individuals with disabilities in the information technology workforce.

"Microsoft believes that everyone has potential - sometimes people just need the resources to realize it," says Sarah Meyer, Microsoft Senior Manager of Community Affairs. "Over the past five years, the company has funded a variety of projects that address this issue, including an initiative that helped demonstrate to employers methods for recruiting, hiring, and retaining individuals with disabilities (Institute for Community Inclusion); a Technology Business Incubator project to fund entrepreneurs with disabilities (Community Options); High School - High Tech sites in Denver and Los Angeles; National Center for Accessible Media to work with corporations to educate them about accessible web design; Living Independently in Los Angeles (a Geographic Information System based interactive database to identify and map resources for people with disabilities); National Organization on Disability's Start on Success internship program; and Accessibility Concept Research and Accessibility Product Development at Universities in the U.S., United Kingdom and Sweden."

Mylene Padolina, Senior Diversity Consultant at Microsoft explains, "To attract the largest possible pool of top-quality employees, including those with disabilities, for its own ranks, Microsoft participates in targeted job fairs, strategic alliances with employment networks, internship programs, and organizations aimed at career fulfillment. Microsoft recruits at events such as the Hire Disability Job Fair, at colleges and universities including Gallaudet University and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, and through its membership in the Career Opportunities for Students with Disabilities (COSD) organization. This year, Microsoft hosted the COSD annual meeting at the Microsoft Corporate Campus in Redmond, Washington. In addition to these recruitment efforts, Microsoft often hires employees with disabilities who learn of employment opportunities with the company by other means."

To Padolina, whether it is new hires or retention of age or incident acquired disabilities, Microsoft is dedicated to providing whatever accommodations or assistive technology it takes for valued employees to remain productive. Some of those include: Accessibility features in Microsoft software, screen readers, screen magnifiers, Braille printers, document scanners, touch sensitive boards, voice recognition software, PDAs, alternative input devices, FM and infrared amplification systems, voice mail transcription, captioning services, pagers, sign language or oral interpreters, voice mail transcription services, and/or mobility specialists.

New hires to Microsoft are given the opportunity right away to express any workplace accommodation needs they may have. An internal committee works to ensure appropriate workplace accommodations for each company employee. Representatives from the Human Resources, Diversity, Benefits, Legal, Ergonomics, and Facilities Departments meet monthly to stay informed on employee accommodation and assistive technology needs. New employees often find tailored accommodations in place for them on their first day of work.

Padolina believes that recognizing that success is best achieved when knowledge is shared, Microsoft both seeks advice from others on how to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities and provides information to employers who share the same goal. As a member of the Business Leadership Network, Microsoft shares and also learns of best practices through networking with other corporations working toward the same employment goals. By making available the award-winning Windows of Opportunity video, Microsoft showcases the accommodations that the company provides to its employees and demonstrates the accessibility features of Microsoft products.

Outreach

Ensuring employability begins before the first interview or job fair, however. For many youth interested in computer careers, learning workplace skills and work etiquette is more than half the battle. To this end, Microsoft works with grade school and high school students with disabilities to provide them with internships, job shadow programs, and technology training.

Expanding Opportunities for College Students with Disabilities

Sarah Meyer reported, "The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), and Microsoft have just launched the Microsoft-AAPD Federal Internship Program: Expanding Tomorrow's IT Workforce. AAPD has worked with various federal agencies to generate IT internship opportunities modeled on a congressional internship program they run on behalf of the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation."

Meyer goes on to explain that more than a year in the making, this eleven week program provided real-world experience and a meaningful paycheck to 10 students interested in information technology careers. Interns may work with their home institutions to apply for academic credit for their experience at federal agencies including: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Education, Labor, Transportation, Health and Human Services, FEMA, The FAA, Patents and U.S Patent and Trade, and the National Science Foundation.

Future plans include acceptance of 15 students for the summer of 2004 and may include more participants in future years. Information about applying for the 2004 program is available on the AAPD web site www.aapd-dc.org

Microsoft's Business Imperative

Mosner sums it up best..."Microsoft's mission statement is, To enable people and businesses throughout the world to realize their full potential. By making its products accessible, hiring and accommodating employees with disabilities, community outreach and grooming students with disabilities for future careers as IT professionals, Microsoft activates this goal with the disability community as well."