Microsoft recently announced a new program to hire people with autism, trying not only to create a diverse workforce but also to demonstrate its commitment to supporting people with disabilities, as the company's new slogan says, "do more."
Mary Ellen Smith, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Operations at Microsoft, who has a 19-year-old son with autism, announced that the pilot program will begin in May, with the help of employment company Specialisterne.
A total of 10 full-time positions are being offered initially at the company's headquarters in Redmond, and as Smith mentioned, the program will be expanded with more positions and other locations if the pilot project is successful.
“People with autism will bring the strengths we need at Microsoft, every person is different, some have an amazing ability to retain information in detail or excel at math and coding. It’s a talent pool we want them to bring to Microsoft!” he says.
Microsoft is known as one of the companies that has invested millions of dollars in projects designed to help people with disabilities. So by hiring people with autism, it is essentially continuing those efforts while showing a very human face.
The company announced that all candidates who wish to submit their resumes will need to use a dedicated email address (msautism [at] microsoft.com) to send them in. The program will begin in May 2015.
Let's hope the program goes well and that we see it implemented in Greece at some point.
