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Representing IBMers with diverse abilities

IBM is dedicated to hiring, supporting, educating and embracing people of all abilities.

We champion people with diverse abilities and the previously untapped potential they bring to the workplace. People with diverse abilities have training, education and experience to offer. Diverse Abilities include visual, hearing, motor and cognitive, or neurodiversity, a concept where neurological differences such as Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity and Dyslexia, are to be recognized and respected as any other human variation. By embracing people with diverse abilities and tapping their potential, we put people of all abilities at the center of IBM's success. 

"Neurodiversity is important because if there were no differences in the way that people thought…new ideas would not be created." Dyllan Rafail Test Automation Specialist, IBM
Our community

Meet leaders focused on diversity of abilities at IBM

Chieko Asakawa

Meet the IBM Fellow and IBM Distinguished Service Professor

Ingrid Weiss

Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder when she was a child, Ingrid is now an IBM QA Specialist

Nat Lyckowski

IBM's Global Neurodiversity Advancement Leader talks life at IBM

Be Equal Podcast

Listen to stories of society, culture and the diverse perspectives of IBMers around the globe

Numbers

16%

of the world's population (more than 1 billion people) experience a significant disability today. Disability is part of being human and is integral to the human experience.

WHO, March 2023 (link resides outside ibm.com)

1:20

people are neurodivergent. Neurological differences include autism, attention deficit hyperactivity, dyslexia and more.

MyDisabilityJobs (link resides outside ibm.com)

80%

of disabilities are invisible.

Hidden Disabilities Sunflower (link resides outside ibm.com)

Associations

We’re teaming with external organizations devoted to making a difference, leveraging research and offering resources to our employees

ILO Global Business and Disability Network Disability:IN Specialisterne Foundation and IBM SkillsBuild Training ND Talent
Perspectives

IBM and IBMers stand with the neurodiverse community and call for change to ensure equality

2023 Best Places to Work for disability inclusion IBM UK achieves Level 2 Disability Confident Employer Award
Resources

Learn from established organizations about how to get involved and take action

IBM Equal Access Toolkit AI fairness for people with disabilities Harnessing the power of video remote interpreting in professional space Hiring Neurodivergents in IBM: An NT/ND Video Perspective Neurodiversity @ IBM from the Newsroom
"No person is handicapped if he has the right job." Michael Supa
Equal-opportunity Administrator,
IBM 1942-1980
Pivotal moments
1942

IBM hired blind psychologist Michael Supa to create a program for hiring and training people with disabilities.


1999

Japanese IBM Fellow Chieko Asakawa, who is blind, opened the web for non-visual access with her IBM Home Page Reader, which converts text to speech and helps blind people navigate the web.


2000

Establishment of the IBM Human Ability and Accessibility Center within IBM Research. The 40-person organization leads compliance initiatives so IBM products comply with all government accessibility requirements; and works with clients and IBM® Business Partners to help them implement end-to-end policies, processes and solutions for accessibility.


Champion diversity

Every one of us is a complex combination of diverse characteristics. Learn more about other communities and embrace all aspects of identity.

Black Hispanic Indigenous LGBTQ+ Pan-Asian Veterans Women