Where's Mario? Ask GPL. In January 2024, they roped the world's most famous plumber (fictional) into an unusual initiative aimed at bolstering inclusion and diversity for persons with disabilities. It's called “ThisAbleMe,” and is dedicated to enhancing awareness, job mapping, accessibility, and representation for PwDs.
ThisAbleMe's digital manifestation is a dedicated site and space for learning about disability and accessibility, fostering allyship with persons with disabilities. The public campaign takes off from the Super Mario game, a beloved staple of internet and gaming culture.
Through videos in the Mario environment, the campaign showcases employees navigating GPL's environments with grace and resilience. The character journeys help debunk stereotypes, and cultivate a culture of understanding. These videos are widely disseminated across GPL offices in India, serving to sensitize employees and instil a culture of togetherness.
Pirojsha Godrej, Chairperson of GPL, underscores the significance of inclusivity as a deeply ingrained value within the company's DNA. He said, "I take pride in the strides that each employee has contributed towards making GPL more inclusive for women and the LGBTQ+ community, ensuring that every employee feels a sense of belonging. This year we are entering a new phase in strengthening our teams with ThisAble Me initiative. This is our effort to raise awareness of the challenges faced by Persons with Disabilities and strengthen our work environment (physically, digitally, and emotionally) by being inclusive and accessible for PwD."
The overarching vision of "ThisAble Me" resonates with GPL's commitment to creating everyday joys for everyone. Our colleagues in the company understand disability as including various ways people interact, often leading to exclusion in social, physical, and cognitive aspects. They've reaffirmed its commitment to being an equal Opportunities employer, dedicated to creating a workplace where discrimination is not tolerated, and inclusion is the default.
Text by Prithvi Vatsalya. Image provided by the GPL team.
I take pride in the strides that each employee has contributed towards making GPL more inclusive for women and the LGBTQ+ community, ensuring that every employee feels a sense of belonging. This year we are entering a new phase in strengthening our teams with ThisAble Me initiative. This is our effort to raise awareness of the challenges faced by Persons with Disabilities and strengthen our work environment (physically, digitally, and emotionally) by being inclusive and accessible for PwD.
- Pirojsha Godrej, Managing Director