Level the playing field with technology.
“We can all look forward to a future with technology that enables people of all abilities and all ages to realize their potential.”
— Bill Gates, Microsoft, 2004 New Freedom Award Winner
Technology is being used everyday to increase productivity of employees with and without disabilities:
- Instant messaging and email software allows an employee who is deaf or hard of hearing to communicate efficiently with coworkers.
- “Virtual” offices and meetings allow all employers, including those with disabilities to improve productivity while increasing employee satisfaction.
- Material-handling equipment and other technology used in non-office environments reduce physical requirements of jobs and open up more opportunities for people with physical disabilities.
With its Accessibility Lab and its Accessible Technology Group, Microsoft has discovered that ensuring technology is accessible is beneficial to all employees despite whether they have a disability and that it allows all consumers to be able to use of their products and services – maximizing profits.
The Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) provides a series of success stories that demonstrate how individuals with mild to severe disabilities perform job tasks with innovative technology solutions.
Back to the Employer Business Case
