Inclusion is Innovation: Disability Community
Anything is possible when everyone is included. Discover stories told and illustrated by members of the Disability community, at Microsoft and around the world.
What leaders look like
Shrivaths Iyengar worried that coworkers would be reluctant to follow a leader who had disabilities. Instead, he discovered that his experiences made him a stronger, more empathetic manager. Illustrated by Ananya Rao-Middleton.
More stories
The power of empathy
For Customer Success Account Manager Thad Stafford, living with PTSD, anxiety, and substance abuse disorder empowers him to connect more intentionally with customers.
Origin story
Thiago Gomes had gotten used to wearing a mask, hiding his anxiety and ADHD for most of his life. But when he decided to open up to his coworkers, he discovered something unexpected: a supportive community and a better way of working. Discover his innovation story, illustrated by artist Jason Wilsher-Mills.
Rethinking remote
During the pandemic, Experience Lead Sascha Ackermann and his team set out to make meetings and events more inclusive, for both remote and on-site teams. The result was Microsoft’s first hybrid event room.
New world views
Diagnosed with a visual disability in her teens, Senior Product Manager Nidhi Jain advocates for assistive technologies in the workplace designed to meet people where they are.
Balancing act
“Now, I’m not afraid. It’s okay to be the whole person that I am. It’s okay to be all of Nichole.” Nichole Kurz was used to juggling her job, her life, and her anxiety. But at the moment she achieved her biggest professional goals, she found that her mental health threatened to bring it all crashing down. Discover Nichole Kurz’s story, brought to life with illustrations by Jonathan Soren.
Accountable for progress
Responsibility and accountability require action, not just promises. We leverage our platform to improve lived experiences at Microsoft and beyond—exercising the same commitment we bring to all we do.
Informing experience
7.8% of US employees voluntarily self-identified as having a disability in 2022. Self-ID data helps us create a more informed and inclusive experience for employees.
Intentional partnerships
We partnered with the Center for Civic Design to launch the Disability Voting Index, a new tool that helps ensure more people with disabilities across the US can participate in the electoral process.
Inclusive hiring
Our Neurodiversity Hiring Program gives candidates the opportunity to showcase their unique talents, gain an understanding of Microsoft’s culture, and meet with members of the neurodiverse community.