Technology to offer opportunities for all

       Marx Melencio is totally blind due to a gunshot accident at the age of 23, but he turned his adversity into an opportunity.Grayscale started without any investment other than time, a couple of computers, an Internet connection,and a place that also acted as their home. It launched in Sept 2006 with four people and today there are 140 people working for the company. Most of them work at one of 11 satellite offices scattered across the Philippines.
       Out of these 140 people, a few are visually impaired or totally blind, while some have other disabilities. Most disabled Grayscale employees work from home since Melencio believes mobility is the main issue of handicapped people in the Philippines.
       The proprietor and operations manager of Grayscale Business Management and Consultancy Services noted that the financial crisis has allowed him to build a new department.Grayscale started out only with a content development department, but necessary growth and expansion has led to change. Grayscale now has a department which offers virtual assistance services to client corporations and businesses around the world.
       He said technology useful for the day-to-day activities of disabled people around the world should be accessible to all disabled people, especially in developing countries.
       Various training programs which would improve their skills and knowledge should also play a major role in improving the quality of their lives and their families. However, mindset training and lifestyle rehabilitation should not be taken for granted."In fact, I think it should be the starting point of empowering disabled people to become more productive."
       He added that the policy and decision makers should provide employers with the necessary tools needed for hiring disabled people.
       "Training programs for employers in terms of working with disabled people should also be provided by the government or NGOs," he said.
       "Another thing would be to provide employers with certain benefits if they hire skilled disabled people,such as tax cut-offs and the like.
       "The distributors of the technology, the tools and the knowledge needed by disabled people to find employment should make everything more affordable and accessible.
       "A good starting point would be to make it known to disabled people that these tools, technology and training do exist and are available within certain areas of their countries."