HP Launches Worldwide Disability Mentoring Day Programs

HP Launches Worldwide Disability Mentoring Day Programs

HP today launched its Disability Mentoring Day programs by hosting activities in several countries around the world including the United States, where the company opened the doors of its Houston campus to students with disabilities. Designed to acquaint the students with potential careers in the technology industry, the Houston activities will include shadowing HP employee volunteers as they work and viewing an exhibit of products created by the company’s assistive technology partners using HP technology platforms. Since 1999, HP has partnered with the American Association of People with Disabilities to support National Disability Employment Awareness Month and Disability Mentoring Day.

Through its international presence, HP has transformed what had been a U.S.-only initiative into a global program that underscores the company’s efforts to increase accessibility for a global market of 500 million people with disabilities and age-related limitations. “In the U.S. and around the world, HP is delivering on our commitment to diversity and accessibility to information and technology by introducing students with disabilities to potential careers in a technology company,” said Michael Takemura, director, Accessibility Program Office, HP. “This year, volunteer mentors to the students include recently hired employees with disabilities.”

HP also announced it will receive a 2005 da Vinci Award. Given annually by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Michigan Chapter and The Engineering Society of Detroit, the award applauds the most innovative developments and research in adaptive and assistive technology. HP was recognized for its Developer and Solution Partner Program, which provides free product development and marketing support to assistive technology companies.

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