{"id":29513,"date":"2018-07-01T01:02:53","date_gmt":"2018-07-01T01:02:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.microsoft.com\/?p=410310"},"modified":"2018-07-01T01:02:53","modified_gmt":"2018-07-01T01:02:53","slug":"geekwire-defining-moment-for-seattle-as-microsoft-amazon-others-support-special-olympics-usa-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/2018\/07\/01\/geekwire-defining-moment-for-seattle-as-microsoft-amazon-others-support-special-olympics-usa-games\/","title":{"rendered":"GeekWire: \u2018\u201dDefining moment\u201d for Seattle as Microsoft, Amazon, others support Special Olympics USA Games\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Michel Kozoris raises his arms after competing in the Special Olympics World Summer Games in 2011. (Photo via Special Olympics)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Seattle-area tech companies are making a statement about building an inclusive workforce as the city hosts one of the largest sporting events in the region\u2019s history.<\/p>\n

More than 3,000 athletes will arrive in the Emerald City next week for the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games<\/a> and compete across 14 sports. The event, now in its 50th year, not only spotlights the talent of athletes with intellectual disabilities, but perhaps more importantly promotes inclusion beyond the playing field.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn many ways, this can and should be a defining moment for the Seattle community,\u201d Microsoft President Brad Smith said in an interview with GeekWire. \u201cIt\u2019s a great opportunity to show the nation that we aspire to be a real city and region of inclusion.\u201d<\/p>\n

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This group raised a Special Olympics flag atop the Space Needle in Seattle on Friday morning. From left to right: Beth Knox, CEO, Special Olympics USA Games; Allen Stone,singer\/songwriter; Devon Adelman, Special Olympics athlete; Brad Smith, Microsoft President; and Taye Diggs, singer and author.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Microsoft is the presenting sponsor of the games. The Redmond, Wash.-based tech giant is a long-time supporter of the Special Olympics through donations of software, technical assistance and even cell phones over the years<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But the company is stepping up even more with the games in its backyard this year. It\u2019s a reflection of Microsoft\u2019s broader focus on accessibility<\/a> \u2014 one that got away from the company until Satya Nadella took over as CEO in 2014, Smith said. \u201cWe lost our industry leadership position in terms of meeting the needs of people with disabilities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

That renewed commitment has helped spur a larger culture shift across the company, Smith said. He pointed to products like the new Xbox Adaptive Controller<\/a>\u00a0and the company\u2019s $25 million\u00a0AI for Accessibility Initiative<\/a>\u00a0as examples.<\/p>\n

More than 2,000 employees will be volunteering at the games next week. Microsoft\u2019s Xbox division is also hosting the first-ever video game tournament\u00a0at the USA Games.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you think about our mission of empowering everyone, then fundamentally we have to do a good job of meeting the needs of the billion-plus people on the planet that have some kind of disability, temporary or permanent,\u201d Smith added. He and Nadella will speak at the Opening Ceremony on Sunday at Husky Stadium with Washington Gov. Jay Inslee.<\/p>\n

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Devon Adelman, a Special Olympics USA Games athlete and ambassador, speaks at Microsoft\u2019s Ability Summit in May. (Photo via Microsoft)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Microsoft, Amazon, Starbucks, and other companies are participating in the\u00a0first-ever job fair at a Special Olympics USA Games this year called \u201cJourney of Employment<\/a>,\u201d where athletes will gain career advice and meet with potential employers. It\u2019s designed to raise awareness for a\u00a0talent pool that organizers say is often overlooked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese partners are committed to creating inclusive work cultures and to helping improve the unemployment rate for people with disabilities,\u201d said Special Olympics USA Games CEO Beth Knox.<\/p>\n

The unemployment rate of people with disabilities was 9.2 percent in 2017, double that of the rate for those without disabilities, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a>. And even with government support, nearly 29 percent of disabled, working-age Americans live below the poverty level,\u00a0according to U.S. Census data<\/a>. That line is set at $12,082 for one person.<\/p>\n

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Artists known as \u201cThey Drift\u201d created a mural that was placed on Amazon\u2019s campus in Seattle as part of the \u201cChoose to Include\u201d campaign for the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games. (Photo via Amazon)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Amazon will also be heavily involved next week. The e-commerce giant is sponsoring the closing ceremony near its campus in South Lake Union and will have more than 400 employees volunteering throughout the games. It is also donating boxed lunches for athletes throughout the week via FareStart<\/a>\u00a0and launched a neighborhood restaurant campaign this month called \u201cChoose to Include<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Amazon says it is committed to inclusive hiring. It runs an Alternative Workforce Supplier Program that identifies people with disabilities for hire in the company\u2019s fulfillment centers. The company also partners with\u00a0Northwest Center<\/a>, a Seattle-based nonprofit supporting mentally and physically disabled adults and children that provides employees to Amazon. Many of its products and software services offer accessibility features<\/a>, too.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt Amazon, diversity and inclusion are an inherent part of our culture,\u201d said\u00a0Beth Galetti, Amazon\u2019s senior vice president of human resources. \u201cThe unique talents, experiences, and backgrounds of our employees are the driving force which enables us to build and innovate on behalf of millions of customers around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Amazon\u2019s Spheres glow purple in Seattle this past March as the company joined others in marking 100 days until the Special Olympics USA Games begin in the city. (Amazon Photo \/ Jordan Stead)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bellevue, Wash.-based wireless carrier T-Mobile and coffee giant Starbucks are getting involved as well. T-Mobile, which has more than 7,000 members in its Access for Disabilities Network<\/a>, created a text-to-give program<\/a>\u00a0that enables donations for the games.<\/p>\n