National Disability Awareness Month (NDEAM) starts tomorrow. NDEAM is a reminder that talent is everywhere, but opportunities need to be accessible.
Technology is most powerful when it adapts to people, not the other way around. October marks the start of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), a moment to reflect on how far we have come and how much work remains. NDEAM began in 1945, shaped by the need to support World War II veterans with disabilities returning to work. More than eight decades later, we are still working so that people with disabilities have equal access not only to jobs, but to meaningful careers, advancement, and opportunities to lead. The urgency is clear: in the U.S., the unemployment rate for people with disabilities remains about double the rate for people without disabilities. After more than 20 years at Microsoft, I have seen how technology can open doors, but only when access, skills, and opportunity move forward together. Our goal is to make accessibility easier for everyone, so more people can use, build, and benefit from technology. The employment landscape is changing quickly, making relevant skills more important than ever. That is why I am excited to share new training on the fundamentals of getting started with AI, built with and for the Intellectual and Developmental Disability community. Find the training at: https://lnkd.in/gqZkbD4Z This reflects a core principle: lived experience must help shape the products, training, and opportunities we create. Special thanks to National Down Syndrome Society, National Down Syndrome Congress, IPSE, and Syracuse University’s Center on Disability and Inclusion. Throughout October, I will also celebrate the talent of my Microsoft colleagues through a video series called "This is my Copilot." Each week, a colleague will share how they use AI at work to save time and create greater impact. I’ll begin with Jessica Rafuse, who uses Copilot to make planning accessible travel easier and more reliable. NDEAM is a reminder that talent is everywhere, but opportunities need to be accessible. Let’s keep building workplaces where people with disabilities can learn, grow, lead, and shape the future. #NDEAM #DisabilityInclusion #Accessibility #InclusiveEmployment #AIForEveryone Rylin Rodgers Jessica Rafuse