[MUSIC]
When I was diagnosed
with Autism,
the psychologist explained it
like there were very limited
career capacity for me.
Before I came to Microsoft,
I was struggling
to get employment.
I had these skills in math but
nobody was giving me interviews
and it didn't seem
to be going well.
I worked a couple of
minimum wage jobs.
It was work it
paid the bills but
I definitely could feel that I
was destined for something more.
>> I feel that I get to
have a pretty significant
impact on Microsoft.
>> By having people with
disabilities in the fabric of
our company,
you're building in a diverse work
force that then represents
the one billion people with
disabilities out there.
We're going to be
building better products,
we're going to be
building better services,
websites, anything that we do
will work across
the spectrum of being human.
>> And so, every time we get an
opportunity to bring somebody in
who can see things
from a different angle,
every time that happens.
That's where we find these great
creative types who can come in
and help us deliver the things
that we care about.
[MUSIC]
>> I'm Cody Takayoshi and I'm a
software engineer at XBox Live.
>> My name is Joey Chemis and
I'm a data scientist
here at Microsoft.
>> MJ Gardner,
software engineer on
Azure Build pipelines and
engineering systems.
>> There is just an incredibly
high unemployment and
underemployment rate
when it comes to autism.
Our traditional hiring process,
that's not going to allow
someone with autism to show
up and show their strengths.
[MUSIC]
>> For me, the autism hiring
program was the chance to
finally, you know make it.
Your saying here's the things
that come with autism that
the standard interview
process would flag.
Here's how we accommodate
those issues and
make them less of an issue.
And here's how we allow
a person to really shine and
show their true colors and
abilities.
>> I think this is just
a better way of evaluating,
it's just probably
a better way for anyone.
[MUSIC]
>> People are looking for
companies that reflect humanity,
there is incredible talent out
there in the market place that
should be in our company.
>> This program has given
me a mirror to reflect on
the things that make
me different, or
how could I maybe change
the way that I work,
in order to bring some of
these experiences forward.
>> My hope for the future is
that we won't see this as
a program, but
instead a natural way to recruit
key talent in our organizations.
>> So if I was talking to
a younger version of myself,
I would let myself know
that you're gonna do really
cool things.
And that you're
gonna major in math,
you're gonna really love it.
And that you're gonna end
up getting a really cool
job at Microsoft
that you just enjoy.
And the people, the work,
the type of problems
that are being solved.
>> So
to be here is just really cool.
>> I'm very proud
of where I am.
