Accenture provides assistive tech to employees with disabilities
MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Business process outsourcing (BPO) firm Accenture is equipping employees with disabilities (PWDs) with new assistive technologies to excel at work.
At a media briefing, Accenture Inclusion and Diversity Lead Rudy Guiao said blind employees now have access to WeWalk, a smart cane with built-in speakers. Paired with a mobile app and Bluetooth headset, it provides walking directions by converting visual information into audio that travels through facial bones directly to the inner ear.
For the hearing impaired, Accenture launched the “Inclusive Virtual Experience for Everyone” virtual reality app. Used with a VR headset during video calls and meetings, the app translates speech to text, sign language, and vice versa in real-time.
These latest tools complement existing assistive technologies at Accenture like color contrast keyboards, wheelchairs, and software that converts voice to text during calls.
Guiao said Accenture also provides mental health support through the 24/7 counseling service iTalk and apps that play calming sounds while working.
Over three percent of Accenture’s employees in the Philippines are PWDs. When asked if they want to increase this, Guiao said that they have an unwavering commitment to continue to provide equal opportunities for everyone regardless of gender, disabilities, or other factors.
“And we can confidently say that when you join Accenture, we celebrate the uniqueness of each individual,” Guiao added.
