A study by EY researched how Microsoft Coilot is helping to remove barriers for neurodivergent and disabled employees. 

• 1 in 5 people identifying as Neurodivergent
• 1 in 6 people identify as being disabled.

The numbers are increasing along with Gen Alpha demanding more diverse organisations to work for. 4 in 5 Gen Alpha are more likely to apply for roles at an organisation that take into consideration a broader range of needs, than one that doesn't.

Microsoft Copilot is more than just a generative AI chat bot, with integration into the Microsoft Office suite. The study found that 85% of users feel that Copilot will create a more inclusive workplace. I recommend reading the full study which goes into much more detail - EY GenAI for accessibility: more human, not less

Copilot can be a cost-effective way to help remove barriers for disabled people, from reducing cognitive load with summaries, improving spelling and grammar or describing images and screenshots.

While organisations can benefit from Copilot, caution is needed to ensure that the deployment of Copilot is controlled with governance and checks to ensure that appropriate permissions are in place to prevent Copilot surfacing information a user shouldn't have access to.

Organisations that prioritise ensuring the controls and governance are in place, will benefit from improvements in productivity and accessibility.

 Is your organisation ensuring your employees have access to tools that remove barriers and increase productivity?