CIOInsider India Magazine

Innovative workplaces not only bring the potential out of employees but also empower People with Disabilities (PwDs). Tech companies for PwDs are showing how to bring the best out of talent through their unique, innovative workplace inclusion initiatives. Inclusive workplaces for PwDs, at times, even serve as a motivator that boosts them to break barriers impeding their potential. In fact, such initiatives tend to induce psychological support that can uplift the spirit of PwDs.

Picture yourself reaching the office and fumbling to enter through the door while your coworkers are on the other side engaged in eating or collaborating with others for work. This is a real everyday struggle for those with physical impairments, which injects a sense of exclusion. Talent or skill is just like any other employee, and that is why it is crucial to transform your workplace to make it more accessible to facilitate them to bring out their potential. As a result, you not only get more diverse viewpoints but abilities that can help the business prosper. The following companies are examples of how they have made their working environment more empowering to accommodate PwDs.

Microsoft
The tech giant has ample accessibility initiatives like screen readers and magnifiers in its operating systems; some have surfaced on the internet. For instance, let’s take Microsoft's neurodiversity hiring program, which pools neurodivergent individuals and supports their career development. This program was rolled out in 2015 and has encouraged other efforts in the same direction, like the Neurodiversity @ Work Employer Roundtable, a collective of firms at the forefront of neurodiversity-focused hiring.

Another significant initiative of Microsoft is that it offers employees accessible training and resources, such as online classes, workshops, and policies, that spread awareness and develop accessibility competencies throughout the company.

Salesforce
Salesforce has made it clear how it recognizes the skills that these individuals bring to the workplace. To catapult people into graduating at various levels of their careers, the tech giant is actively looking for people with disabilities by providing work coaching and accommodations. An example of its efforts in prioritizing accessibility can be seen in its Supplier Code of Conduct.

Secondly, the company has been operating its Accessibility Track at its yearly Dreamforce conference in 2022. It’s reported that over 700 accessibility champions participated in 13 sessions of the event, which emphasized talk on disability inclusion and accessibility. Other accessibility enhancement tools, such as low sensory zones, accessible seating, and sign language interpreters, were also included in the event.

Accenture
Back in 2019, this tech behemoth introduced its first Accessibility Center that enables teams to try out various ergonomic devices and assistive technology. The facility has amenities from motorized wheelchairs to aid those with mobility impairment in moving about the office to speech-to-text technologies that enable persons with hearing difficulties to join conference calls.

This center is also open to other Accenture team members, including customers, to open their experience accessibility firsthand by showing how assistive technology tools are helpful for their physically impaired colleagues and coworkers. Till date, the tech behemoth has about 32 Accessibility Centers up and running throughout Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.

P&G
Observing that large doors had made it challenging to enter its headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, the consumer goods manufacturing titan today boasts automatic sliding doors. It has built new ramps in Geneva, Switzerland, and São Paulo, Brazil, that ease the way to reach sunny outdoor patios. The reason is, of course, that it has shifted its focus from disability to inclusivity. The credit can be given to its team's Universal Design approach that goes beyond simple accessible design and code compliance checks. P&G’s DNA speaks of giving every employee the opportunity to thrive, grow, and develop in recognition of their special skills and life experiences. It believes that this will, in turn, encourage its growth through accessible innovation in its communications, services, and products.

The company's Workplace Design team's work is greatly responsible for making its goals of equality, inclusion, and a great employee experience possible. Labs like the Reading Innovation Centre (RIC) in England help team members feel appreciated, accepted, and free to be who they are. Some of the company’s employees with vision impairments are now able to find out when the building's spinning doors are moving thanks to decal decals on them. What’s more, they also have on-site testing of a navigation app.

Capgemini
The IT major highly values its neurodiverse and disabled coworkers for their skills. It has committed to enabling each of its team members to flourish at work and contribute their full potential in creativity and innovation. A vital point to be noted is that it benefits not only those with disabilities but all of its employees by creating a more welcoming and inclusive workplace that puts health first.

It also provides employees with disabilities the resources, assistance, and flexibility they need. The company has furthered its commitment to disability-inclusive sustainability practices with the recent signing of the International Labour Organization (ILO), an award-winning worldwide employee network group focusing on offering advocacy and networking opportunities along with real-world support.

Other ways in which the company has been making its workplace more accessible is through
features such as accessible parking places, elevators, broad entrances, and ramps. Proper signage that contrasts colors and uses large fonts. Wheelchair-accessible restrooms, with cubicles for users. Simple navigation with instructions and space guidance. EVAC chairs are available to facilitate safe evacuations in case of emergency.

BNY Mellon
The financial services giant already made headlines with its HEART, the Employee Resource Group for Diverse Abilities, which achieved a perfect score on the 2020 DEI. HEART raises awareness of physical impairments and fosters a friendly and safe workplace that makes every team member feel welcomed and a safe space to use their range of skills. While it has contributed to sponsoring events like an annual Disability Mentoring Day, this group has truly proved its vigor in leading the way by providing the hearing-impaired team members with closed captioning capabilities.

Caterpillar
The machinery manufacturing behemoth is making strides by enabling a flexible and, of course, welcoming workplace through its ADEPT initiative, an ERG for employees with disabilities. The group is drawing in people with disabilities, forming alliances for career advancement, and doing company and community outreach to raise awareness to integrate D&I. Another internship program is its NFAR, which is solely meant for young adults with autism. Both ADEPT and NFAR engage students by enhancing their caliber through the company's very own tools and products. The program also awarded a group of students the Diversity and Inclusion Excellence award in 2018 for their efforts to enhance the company's work procedures and coding habits.

Cigna
Several times a year, this healthcare giant is known for hosting Disability Awareness Days to encourage ability diversity in the workplace. Not only that, it also organizes activities that help everyone in its workforce to know and understand, and collaborate by informing them on programs and services for employees with disabilities. It doesn’t end there; Cigna also shares a track record for a number of employee groups that provide a forum for employees to collaborate and develop solutions for the business as well as for customers with disabilities. To give back to the community and build a pool of diverse talent that may eventually work for Cigna, members of organizations like People with Different Abilities also volunteer with students who have disabilities.