Each entity within the Orange Group does what it can to ensure digital technology lives up to its full potential to benefit as many people as possible, particularly people with disabilities and their caregivers. Numerous initiatives are ongoing in our 26 operating countries and over 200 countries where we support businesses through Orange Business. And many more are underway across the Group, locally, nationally, and internationally. Here is an overview of some of our flagship actions that contribute to disability inclusion in the workplace and society at large.
How diversity benefits our collective
Discover some of our initiatives that illustrate our commitments
In December 2023, we produced our first international report on “Disability, neurodiversity and accessibility”, which illustrates our 20-year commitment to the cause through 55 entities present in 39 countries. The aim of this report is to showcase the initiatives carried out by the Group while serving as a reference point for improving disability inclusion as part of an ongoing responsible approach.
Raising awareness and direct support
Côte d'Ivoire: We organize webinars and workshops to raise awareness about the importance of accessibility and detail the accessible features of apps such as Orange Money and Orange et moi.
Egypt: We supported a dedicated center for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. The project includes the creation of support programs, ASD conferences, training for families, inclusive activities, awareness campaigns, and keyworker training on inclusivity. It also acts as a referral point to help children and families access a variety of community services. 250 people were supported in 2023.
Liberia: Digital Schools have enabled more than 15,000 children to access online educational content, among them 5,000 children with disabilities. The Orange Liberia Foundation has set up the Wologizi Computer Lab to open up the world of e-learning and software for people with hearing impairments.
Madagascar: In 2023, we provided monthly training to autism specialists on specific educational needs including physiological, communication, autonomy and predictability. We also helped renovate two centers and equip eight others to help about 125 autistic children in four cities.
Mali: Every year, the Orange Mali Corporate Foundation organizes an event themed “Solidarity for Peace, Stability and Development”. In 2023, donations worth + 60 million FCFA (€91,460), were made to several associations to fund items such as motorized tricycles for people with disabilities.
Tunisia: In 2023, we trained 70 professionals involved in supporting people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
Orange Foundation: the Autism and Digital program provides essential equipment and support to people with autism. In 2023, 3,938 children and adults benefited from digital tools focused on learning, communication, and diversity. The Orange Corporate Foundation funds a range of high-impact digital projects such as designing a more inclusive city for people with cognitive difficulties so that they can study, work, and enjoy life to the fullest. In 2023, more than 460 people benefited from various inclusion programs including adapted housing for 90 of them.
Developing adapted products and services
Africa: Our e-commerce platform Max It is accessible to everyone (Orange customers or not). The super app aggregates various offers from international partners, producers, and local start-ups that meet people’s essential needs and can be adapted to various dialects and disabilities.
France: Orange et moi is a free mobile app to manage your internet or mobile account and access customer support. To improve accessibility, we redesigned the screen, changed the button location, and created a more friendly user interface which can be controlled from a PC. It is also accessible to people with visual impairments who use Voice Over or Talkback.
Orange Business (France): Digital Accessibility is a three-part offer aimed at the business market, covering Awareness and training (awareness session and technical training); Assessments (exploratory audit, compliance audit, and control audit); and Support and development (support for design, testing and fault follow-up, compliance).
Jordan: We developed a range of tools including the Signbook app for people with hearing impairments and adapted bills and documents for people with visual difficulties, with enlarged type and Braille available for both fixed and mobile devices.
Poland: The B-Link app was developed in collaboration with Łódź Technical University to enable people with restricted motor skills to control their computer through an adapted software suite and peripherals.
Simplifying access to services, buildings, and public spaces
Côte d'Ivoire: 5 of our agencies are being adapted and all of these agencies will have dedicated signage. Store advisors are also trained to welcome people with disabilities.
France: Twice a year, the Digital Autonomy Catalogue is published in plain language (French) to help people understand Orange France’s latest mobile, fixed-line, internet, and TV offers.
People with restricted mobility or who are unable to visit a store for any reason can also call on dedicated remote support via offres.autonomie@orange.com. This is an accessible service to advise on adapted offers, remote purchasing, and home delivery staffed by more than 200 call center agents trained in disability and relevant Orange offers. Customers with disabilities or hearing impairments can also access special remote sales support via orange.fr.
Stores displaying the “Autonomy” sign in mainland France mean specially trained sales advisors can offer priority care and personalized support to elderly or disabled people. We also label the stores that are accessible to people with restricted mobility and that offer services such as sound terminals, hearing loops, and signage with pictograms, guaranteeing a more supportive customer experience. No other operator offers this type of signage.
Moldova: 86% of our stores and 70% of indirect stores (managed by our indirect distribution network) are equipped with access ramps.
The Motivatie association has developed a map via the Access Now app that uses a constantly updated database of accessible buildings and places, as well as the best means to access them so that people with disabilities can know in advance whether a building has a ramp or not and plan accordingly.
Poland: 144 stores are accessible, whether that means easy access or the option of using a Polish sign language interpreter or an online sign language system plus a little extra support to configure their device.
Romania: People with disabilities are considered priority customers when it comes to accessing our support services.
Slovakia: 68 of our 89 stores are accessible to people with reduced mobility and 18 of them are also equipped with a doorbell dedicated to people with disabilities.
How Orange promotes equal opportunities
Belgium: Entra provides high-quality, adapted, and sustainable jobs for people who have certain difficulties due to illness or disability. As part of our 24-year partnership, in 2023, 64 people were able to benefit from 111 activities outsourced to Entra.
France: When applying to work for Orange, all applicants are advised that the company promotes diversity and inclusion and that we can accommodate these needs.
In October 2023, Orange signed the “Manifeste du Collectif des entreprises pour une économie plus inclusive” to show our commitment to increasing inclusive procurement by 30% by 2025. In 2023, Orange purchased goods from 300 inclusive suppliers, an increase of 20% compared to 2022.
Jordan: In 2022, we signed partnerships with the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other NGOs such as Humanity & Inclusion to boost our recruitment of people with disabilities. We have also posted targeted ads on social networks that are specifically aimed at recruiting people with disabilities as part of a dedicated social media strategy that also includes a dedicated virtual job fair for people with disabilities that offers immediate online interviews for applicants.
Morocco: We take part in job fairs dedicated to people with disabilities, such as Orange Morocco: Forum “Handicap Emploi Maroc” 2022 organized by the association Espoir Maroc, where more than 100 interviews were conducted by the HR team; all candidates received guidance and advice, and one candidate was recruited into our direct distribution channel.
