Microsoft unveiled a new project to empower people with disabilities at a time when many corporations around the world have announced numerous job cuts and layoffs (PwDs).
For over 100,000 jobs for people with impairments, Microsoft teamed up with the nonprofit EnAble India. By working together on tech skilling, mentorship, internship, and employment initiatives, the “Inclusion to Action” initiative hopes to “unlock 100,000 opportunities” for PwDs. It aims to bring together more than 100 organisations from the financial services, manufacturing, retail, and tech sectors.
President of Microsoft India, Anant Maheshwari, stated that “this collaboration marks the beginning of a continuous endeavour to engage with multiple stakeholders across industry, advocates, experts, policymakers, and the disability community to empower and transform employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.”
Microsoft will offer IT training and skills to people with disabilities.
According to a report by IANS, Microsoft stated that a greater presence of PwDs will result in inclusive product development, which will help technology users with disabilities.
Additionally, training materials on contemporary workplace applications for increased productivity and successful collaboration are available to people with impairments.
The technical skill-building programmes are made to improve knowledge of digital accessibility, which might lead to a cultural shift as businesses develop their hybrid work strategies.
According to Dipesh Sutariya, co-founder of Enable India, “there is an urgent need to open up chances for those with disabilities whose social circles are 10% that of non-disabled.”
