At the moment, we’re proud to have a good time Incapacity Delight Month and reaffirm our dedication to closing the incapacity divide by way of expertise and coverage. Incapacity Delight Month additionally coincides with the anniversary of the People with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into legislation on July 26, 1990, and is taken into account one of the vital complete civil rights legal guidelines for folks with disabilities on the planet.
At Microsoft, we consider incapacity is a energy, and that empowering folks with disabilities is crucial for making a extra inclusive and accessible world. We’re dedicated to closing the incapacity divide, which is the hole between the alternatives and outcomes of individuals with and with out disabilities, significantly within the areas of schooling, employment, and civic participation. We acknowledge that closing the incapacity divide requires not solely modern expertise, but in addition efficient public coverage that protects the rights and dignity of individuals with disabilities and full and equal participation in society.
Entry to civic participation
On this 12 months of elections, over half of the world’s inhabitants is eligible to vote and the disabled vote is highly effective! Within the US, we’re partnering with the American Affiliation of Individuals with Disabilities (AAPD), AAPD’s REV UP, and the Heart for Civic Design on the Accessible Voting Information to offer assets and steerage for election officers, policymakers, advocates, and voters on how one can make elections extra accessible and inclusive. The Accessibility Voting Information accommodates particulars on accessible voting in every US state, together with early voting, voting in-person on Election Day, mail voting, and accessible vote-by-mail instruments for folks with disabilities. The location additionally shares info on accessible voting rights and methods to advocate for voters with disabilities.
Entry to financial fairness
Within the US, we proceed to help the elimination of Part 14(c) of the Truthful Labor Requirements Act, which permits employers to pay staff with disabilities subminimum wages. Over 100,000 staff with disabilities within the US earn lower than minimal wage, generally pennies per hour. Microsoft believes in wage fairness. We pay our workers at the very least minimal wage and we count on our suppliers to pay their workers at the very least minimal wage. We’re endorsing the Transformation to Aggressive Built-in Employment Act, a bipartisan invoice that will finish subminimum wages and supply grants and technical help to assist employers transition to aggressive, built-in employment for staff with disabilities.
To be taught extra about our place, reference our feedback in the course of the Division of Labor’s 2024 Subminimum Wage Listening Periods.
There’s additionally an array of laws, laws and agreements occurring all over the world that impression the inclusion and safety of individuals with disabilities, such because the European Accessibility Act (EAA), Company Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and Net content material and Cell Purposes laws for Title II of the People with Disabilities Act (ADA). At Microsoft, we see accessibility agreements as a chance for the world to be extra inclusive, present readability, and speed up accessibility.
Accountable AI is Accessible AI
Microsoft’s Accountable AI framework contains equity, reliability and security, privateness and safety, transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness. By way of the Accountable AI framework, Microsoft companions with corporations all over the world who’re offering accessible services. Current partnerships with World Symbols and Cboard are examples of how AI is a part of how we are able to deal with the incapacity divide by way of expertise.
World Symbols‘ work on Augmentative and Various Communications (AAC) goals to assist people with extreme speech, language, and literacy challenges customise symbols to facilitate communication. At present, World Symbols is making a instrument to automate image manufacturing utilizing Steady Diffusion fashions and DALL-E 3 on Azure OpenAI. Their innovation has the potential to deliver new potentialities by way of extra culturally related AAC experiences in underrepresented communities all over the world.
Our partnerships additionally prolong to expertise that will increase productiveness and ease of entry. For example, the staff behind Cboard is growing a brand new multi-platform utility that leverages Azure OpenAI and is inbuilt Azure AI Studio to help individuals who use AAC in producing fast, correct responses throughout conversations. Cboard’s AI-powered answer supplies real-time ideas to reinforce communication, significantly for people who face challenges in verbal communication or processing conversational cues. AI coupled with partnerships with organizations like Cboard and World Symbols are vital as we attempt to bridge the incapacity divide collectively.
As we have a good time the anniversary of the People with Disabilities Act and Incapacity Delight Month, we’re reminded of the progress that has been made all over the world since that summer time of 1990 when the ADA was first handed. We’re grateful to our companions within the incapacity motion for welcoming us to their occasions and interesting in essential conversations. This month and each month, we have a good time the expertise, ingenuity, and dedication of the worldwide incapacity group for accelerating accessibility.
When you have questions or suggestions on Accessibility at Microsoft, tell us on the Incapacity Reply Desk or check out the brand new Bing AI-powered Ask Microsoft Accessibility instrument. And to be taught extra about incapacity inclusion and making a extra inclusive office, take a look at the Strengthening Groups: Foster Incapacity Inclusion studying path on LinkedIn Studying – obtainable free of charge till August 22, 2024.