Microsoft APAC Enabler Program helps 110 PwDs in six countries match to roles within the first seven months of launch

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 30 April 2021 – Since
the launch of the Microsoft APAC Enabler program seven
months ago, sixteen PwDs have secured full time roles, internships, mentorships^[i], and training^[ii] opportunities through the
program, with more than 110 PwDs are currently being matched to 65 potential
roles with Microsoft Partners.

Caption: Jidapa Nitiwirakun (left) and
Pairin Chakaja (right) from the Pattaya Redemptorist Technological College for
People with Disabilities in Thailand at Microsoft Thailand.

 

Sri Lanka joins Singapore, Thailand, Philippines,
South Korea and New Zealand, where non-profits like Enable
Lanka Foundation and the Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities educate and train Partners on
creating inclusive workplaces and being inclusive employers. These nonprofits join 19 other Microsoft Partners
including ZILLIONe Systems Solutions, Redstone
System, and DDLS Philippines to remove barriers for a more diverse workforce.

 

“In
2020, we saw an incredible number of businesses which have pivoted to cloud.
With this, being equipped with a digital skillset is fast becoming the currency
of our post-pandemic world. To unlock more for PwDs, it’s imperative that
skilling and employment opportunities in technical roles are front and center
of our economic reset in the region. Which is why we are so proud of the next step Microsoft is taking in
our accessibility journey, a 5-year commitment to help bridge
the global “Disability Divide”, doubling down to expand what is possible with
accessible technology, opening doors for disabled talent to enter the workforce
and continuing our journey of disability inclusion in the workplace,” said
Pratima Amonkar, Chair for D&I and Accessibility for Microsoft APAC who
leads the Microsoft Enabler Program.

 

In a roundtable discussion on digital
skills during a virtual visit to Asia Pacific yesterday, Microsoft CEO,
Satya Nadella shared that to transform society, we need to create
opportunities for the more than 1 billion
people in the world who have disabilities, so
they can participate in the world economy. He shared the importance of having a
continuous learning mindset and reiterated Microsoft’s mission that is grounded
on ensuring every person has the tools and skills that allow them to create,
build and change the communities they live and work in.

 

PwDs hired by
employer partners 

• Zeus Oliveros is
  one of the first PwDs to be hired through the program. He joined Cognizant
  Philippines‘ call center team as an Associate for three
  and a half months doing callouts and data analysis. Through this experience, he
  found his passion for content development and marketing and is now looking for
  a role in that area.
• Kang Joohyun, a
  person who is deaf, is currently employed in Cloocus Korea. While
  she is still new to the team and is learning about the company’s major sales
  and purchasing structure, she will in time take a leading role in the cost
  accounting department.
• Marcus Tan is
  a third-year student at Temasek Polytechnic with cerebral palsy. He joined NTT Data in Singapore for a three-month internship in October 2020 and was tasked with
  developing an internal application. Following his internship, NTT Data
  Singapore is now conducting talks to PwD students and their wider cohorts in local
  polytechnics to raise awareness around diversity and inclusion.
• Jidapa Nitiwirakun and
  Thatsaphon Chikhunthod are currently interning at NTT Asia Pacific (Thailand)‘s
  information technology department while completing their degrees at the Pattaya Redemptorist Technological College. This internship has shown Thatsaphon that his physical
  disabilities do not inhibit his dreams of being a programmer; a career which he
  finds challenging as there are always new developments to learn, practice and
  apply.

Building an inclusive economy in APAC  

Accessibility
must be a priority. And every one of us will experience a form of disability at
some point in our lives, whether temporary, situational, or permanent. By
empowering PwDs to fully participate in our economies, we are effectively
increasing our productive population, and this can lead to a 1-7% rise in GDP.

 

Microsoft
provides training in technology skills including cloud and artificial
intelligence, bi-monthly tech consult sessions where volunteer employees share
their tech expertise with Microsoft Azure and Microsoft Teams. More than 120
PwDs have benefitted from these sessions.

 

“The
feedback from the Microsoft Partners have been extremely encouraging. By supporting
them through the program and enabling them to have a focused approach, our Partners
are seeing their cultures improve, their people becoming more inclusive and
their community being more empathetic.” Pratima continued.

 

Microsoft
has rolled out 45 training hours focused on inclusive hiring and design as well
as assistive technologies enabled through artificial intelligence on Microsoft
Azure. Microsoft Partners receive education and training by NPOs, on topics
such as workplace modifications required and on how to best work with and
mentor PwDs.

 

“The
last seven months have been an incredible period of learning and growth for us
and our Partners and we have just begun the journey. For the Microsoft APAC Enabler
Program to reach its full potential, I hope that more Partners, nonprofits, PwDs
will join us, so that together, we can work collectively towards an inclusive
future for every person.” Pratima concluded.