You Can’t Start a Fire Without a Spark: AI for Accessibility

3. How we think about
Disability
Disability

4. Disability in the Modern World

5. In it for the long game
From accessibility to inclusion
1990 2000 2010 2020
People + Technology

6. Striving for inclusion in who we
are and every product we create
Our
culture
Accessible and
accountable
Inclusive
interactions
Investing
in the future

7. Video:
Autism Hiring Program

8. Hackathon

9. Inclusive Design
aka.ms/inclusivedesign

10. Learning Tools – 12M active UU Per Month

11. Automatic Alternative Text

12. PowerPoint Designer

13. Project Torino

14. Digital Transformation

15. //
A new $25 million, 5-year
program aimed at harnessing the
power of AI to amplify human
capability for the more than one
billion people around the world
with disabilities. Together, we can
create a more inclusive world.
AI for Accessibility

16. AI for Accessibility Focus Areas
Human Connection
Challenge:
Communication is fundamental to
providing equal access to information
and opportunities. Lack of options
excludes some from employment and
society.
Opportunity:
Modernize the options available for
people regardless of how they listen,
speak, or write.

17. Internal
• Research, Hackathons
• Product evolution and improvements (features,
solutions, etc.)
External
• Partnerships (NGO, Community, Education, etc.)
• Joint evangelism
• Grant Program
• Intended to spur use of Microsoft AI and cloud
services
• Application window always open (beginning
June 2018)
• Three (3) targeted challenges: employment,
modern life, and human connection
• Three (3) tiers of engagements: product only,
product + engineering support, partnership

24. Presentation Translator

27. MicrosoftMission,continued
Microsoft Mission
Empower every person and every
organization on the planet to achieve more

28. // AI for Accessibility