Booth

2 January 2023

Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation Helps Fill Tech Employment Gap by Collaborating to Empower Youth with Disabilities

Visit Mitsubishi Electric at CES: Booth #3841 in the West Hall of the Las Vegas
Convention Center
Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation Helps Fill Tech
Employment Gap by Collaborating to Empower Youth with
Disabilities
CES 2023 Future of Work Presentation Highlights Benefits of Assistive
Technology and Inclusive Job Skills Training to Contribute to a Global,
Sustainable Smart Society
Las Vegas and Washington, D.C. – January 6, 2023 – Mitsubishi Electric and Mitsubishi Electric
America Foundation (MEAF) will present at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las
Vegas on the benefits of harnessing the use of assistive technology to prepare and empower
youth with disabilities to access workforce training programs to help fill today’s high-tech
employment gap and contribute to a global, sustainable smart society.
Since 1991, MEAF has worked with nonprofit partners to develop curricula, learning
technologies, and corporate alliances to promote inclusive, quality education to empower youth
with disabilities and prepare them for the competitive job market. According to Kevin R. Webb,
senior director at MEAF, despite slight gains made by workers with disabilities as reported in the
Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire November 2022 National Trends in
Disability Employment (nTIDE) Report, people with disabilities are still twice as likely to be
unemployed as people without disabilities. While this pool of capable talent sits on the
sidelines, the 2018 Skills Gap and Future of Work Study by Deloitte and The Manufacturing
Institute predict that 2.4 million manufacturing jobs will go unfilled by 2028, while the 2021
Salesforce and RAND Europe survey predicts the digital skills gap could lead to $11.5 trillion in
cumulative lost GDP growth by 2028.
“We are working to address the tech skills gap by supporting organizations that help build a
pipeline of diverse, capable and reliable talent to meet the workforce needs of today and
tomorrow,” said Webb. “The nonprofit partners with which we have collaborated and funded
develop highly sophisticated learning programs with leading technology platforms that are very
much in-demand to prepare youth with disabilities with the skills to help meet today’s workforce
needs.”
Examples of leading technology learning programs supported by MEAF include: NSITE’s
Cisco®-certified 40-week training model that prepares individuals who are blind or visually
impaired for careers in IT and cybersecurity; Career Launch@Perkins, an innovative customer
experience workforce development program for people who are visually impaired and interested
in Salesforce® and customer service careers; The Uniquely Abled Project® which prepares
young people with autism for careers as CNC machine operators; and Exceptional Minds’
academy and studio for artists and animators with autism, providing them with valuable
experience to work in gaming and on Hollywood studio films.
Webb, who also leads sustainability and social impact efforts at Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc.,
states that the Foundation’s work is just one facet of Mitsubishi Electric’s broader
environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy to advance a global, sustainable smart
society by using the power of the company’s people, processes, products, and philanthropy to
address societal challenges.
“Our offerings span many industries that are vital contributors to growing a smart society,”
Webb said. “That puts us is in a unique position to gather data-driven, cross-industry business
insights that will improve our solutions, help our customers achieve their business goals, and –
over time – help solve macro social challenges such as accelerating decarbonization,
optimizing use and re-use of vital resources, and promoting well-being and inclusion for all
people, especially those with disabilities.”
For more information on Mitsubishi Electric’s efforts to advance a global, sustainable smart
society visit us.mitsubshielectric.com/sustainability and learn more about the Foundation at:
www.meaf.org.
For additional information, visit ces.mitsubishielectric.com.
About Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc.
Headquartered in Cypress, CA, Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc., is a US affiliate company of
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, and manufactures cooling and heating products, elevators and
escalators, space and sensing systems, and semiconductor devices. Mitsubishi Electric
contributes to a vibrant and sustainable society through continuous innovation and “Making
Changes for the Better.” For additional information visit us.mitsubishielectric.com/en.
-MoreAbout Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
With 100 years of experience in providing reliable, high-quality products, Mitsubishi Electric
Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) is a recognized world leader in the manufacture, marketing and
sales of electrical and electronic equipment used in information processing and
communications, space development and satellite communications, consumer electronics,
industrial technology, energy, transportation and building equipment. Mitsubishi Electric
enriches society with technology in the spirit of its “Changes for the Better.” For more
information, please visit www.MitsubishiElectric.com
About Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation (MEAF)
The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, based in the Washington, D.C. area, was
established in 1991 by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and the Mitsubishi Electric U.S.
companies, which produce, sell and distribute a wide range of consumer, industrial, commercial
and professional electronics products. The Foundation has contributed more than $21.5 million
to organizations that are empowering young people with disabilities to lead more inclusive and
productive lives. To learn more, visit www.MEAF.org.
Media contacts:
Jessica Neuman
Media Manager and Senior Account Executive
Westbound Communications
jneuman@westboundcommunications.com
Mobile: +1 858.382.5157
Christina O’Connell
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications
Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc.
christina.oconnell@meus. com
Office: +1 714.236.6135 / Mobile: +1 714.713.0145