How Microsoft's Chief Accessibility Officer Does Her Job

Microsoft is known as one of the more inclusive companies in the technology industry, with products including an adaptive Xbox controller and initiatives such as hiring people with autism and funding startups that use artificial intelligence to help people with disabilities. The company is also one of the few that has a chief accessibility officer, having created the role in 2010. Jenny Lay-Flurrie assumed the post in 2016 as Microsoft restructured the accessibility division to make it more central to the company. Ms. Lay-Flurrie, who is deaf and who initially hid her disability by relying on lip reading, spoke to the Experience Report by video call about her role and the moves she and others with her remit should be making. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.