The technology market continues to experience exponential growth, however, still stands out as one of the least diverse. Focused on this, and seeking to empower people with disabilities in order to ensure employability, as well as to promote innovation and economic development in Brazil, Microsoft relied on the educational support of SoulCode Academy, Brazilian edtech that aims to democratize digital education, generating social impact and digital inclusion, to expand the training of PWDs for the technology market
The partnership integrates Microsoft Conecta+, portal that brings together all the free training and retraining programs of the company, and graduated about 30 students with disabilities at the end of June from a Bootcamp focused on Cloud Concepts and Microsoft Cloud Artificial Intelligence.
"The initiative with SoulCode aligns with Microsoft's goal of empowering the Brazilian population in technology and having a diverse team in its workforce", that brings different perspectives to the business and innovates from their individual experiences, stated Cristiane Carvalho, human resources director of Microsoft Brazil
Empowering with inclusion has already transformed realities
The students participated in 100% online and live classes, from Monday to Friday, full-time, from 8am to 6pm, for 12 weeks. In addition to technical training, the training also included mentoring from Microsoft professionals, development of behavioral skills and 1 hour of English class daily for each participant through the Tech English platform from SoulCode
"The course gave me the opportunity to learn technology and build a career and also made me a better person". I learned about important techniques for the technology landscape, but I also improved my ability to work in a group and even learned about the importance of inclusion, account Alexandre Caus Haddade, diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
"I have always been delegitimized and was afraid of contact with other people", but it was amazing how receptive the teachers were and how I was respected. The training allows me to work and seek dignity, besides the possibility of growth as a professional, relates Bruna Gago, transsexual woman, gaga is diagnosed with ASD
People who diverge from the norm do not have the opportunity to choose jobs and, from the moment we secure a decent job through our skills, we began to have perspectives of professional growth, continued Bruna
"When thinking about technology", we still think about cis men, whites and without disabilities. As a PWD, I am aware of my social cuts, I knew I would need to dedicate myself more than others and I received all the necessary support for that during the bootcamp, account Bruna
"Inclusion is still just beginning in the technology market, and training opportunities like this one from Microsoft and SoulCode are a demonstration of this struggle". A person with Autism Spectrum Disorder is neither better nor worse than anyone else, she is just a person with a different perspective and that can be very important for a company, affirms Alexandre
