Policy paper

Microsoft Corporation

Published 23 July 2018

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government

Form for submitting commitments for the Global Disability Summit 2018

IMPORTANT: Please refer to the accompanying guidance note for advice on completing this form and please fill in all four sections in English.

Your organisation:

Type of organisation: Private Sector Organisation

If other: Click or tap here to enter text.

Name of organisation Microsoft Corporation

Charter for Change

Please read the attached Summit Charter for Change: the principal legacy of the Summit. If your organisation is happy to sign up to the Charter, please confirm by putting a cross in the box below. My organisation signs up to the Summit Charter for Change ☒

Your organisation’s commitments to achieve the rights of people with disabilities in developing countries:

Commitments to eliminate Stigma and Discrimination:

Please select the category which your commitment most relates to: Representation and empowerment of persons with disabilities Please enter the exact wording of the commitment/s, including details of others who has supported its development (75 words limit): Microsoft is committed to reducing stigma and discrimination by amplifying the strengths of people with disabilities through a culture of disability inclusion and awareness of accessibility. Timeframe and/or implementation plan (75 words limit) Microsoft will launch a month-long destigmatizing campaign in October 2018. Within the company, we promote self-identification of disability through employee storytelling and awareness of disability facts, history, and culture. Externally, we share the stories of our customers, similar to our 2017 Inclusion in Action series.

Commitments for Inclusive Education:

Please select the category which your commitment most relates to: Additional resources and implementation

Please enter the exact wording of the commitment/s, including details of others who have supported its development (75 words limit):

Microsoft is committed to empowering teachers and students to achieve more through accessible classroom tools.

Timeframe and/or implementation plan (75 words limit)

Throughout 2018 and beyond, Microsoft will continue to improve upon our accessible technology as a means to empower teachers and students with disabilities. For example, Learning Tools are inclusively designed capabilities in Office 365 and Edge with Windows 10 that improve reading and writing experiences for people with learning disabilities like dyslexia, emerging readers and new language learners.

Commitments for Economic Empowerment

Please select the category which your commitment most relates to: Inclusive environments in the workplace

Please enter the exact wording of the commitment/s, including details of others who have supported its development (75 words limit):

Microsoft is committed to growing a diverse workforce that includes people with disabilities, both internally at Microsoft and externally. By creating accessible inclusive technologies, Microsoft strives to empower people with disabilities to obtain, retain, and advance in employment opportunities across the globe.

Timeframe and/or implementation plan (75 words limit)

Microsoft will continue to build our Inclusive Hiring strategy, which includes systemic and programmatic hiring of people with disabilities across all jobs and geographies. Systemically, we will continue to create inclusive processes and practices, such as targeted sourcing of candidates with disabilities, centralized accommodation process, and our Disability Employee Resources Group. Our programmatic approach includes our Autism Hiring Program and Supported Employment Program. We commit to sharing our learnings with other employers in furtherance of disability employment.

Commitments for Technology and Innovation

Please select the category which your commitment most relates to: Join Global Partnership for Assistive Technology

Please enter the exact wording of the commitment/s, including details of others who have supported its development (75 words limit):

Microsoft commits to joining the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology to collaborate with other entities in pursuit of global disability inclusion and accessibility.

Timeframe and/or implementation plan (75 words limit)

By joining the Global partnership for Assistive Technology, we strive to collaborate on the promotion of accessible technologies for all in the modern workplace and beyond. For example, Xbox Copilot feature allows two controllers to act as if they were one, making Xbox gaming more inviting and easier for gamers who need unique configurations to play i.e hands apart, hand and chin, hand and foot, etc. The Xbox Adaptive Controller connects to external buttons, switches, joysticks and mounts, allowing gamers with a wide range of abilities to customize their setups.