23andMe’s internship program provides a diverse array of people with valuable experience and room to grow personally and professionally. The 2021 class of interns was the first to operate remotely, which allowed interns to contribute their talents and insights to the Gene Pool from every corner of the country. 
Read what some of our interns shared about what they accomplished, enjoyed, and experienced during their ten weeks with 23andMe. 
&nbsp;

<h6>Marcos Sandoval, IT Help Desk Intern &#8211; IT <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Marcos-S-1-150x150.jpg" alt="" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-29086" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Marcos-S-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Marcos-S-1-271x271.jpg 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Marcos-S-1-372x372.jpg 372w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></h6>
In this internship, I’ve learned how to use and provision various enterprise-level tools to help triage any and all IT-related issues. I have also been managing user permissions and troubleshooting problems! Something exciting I have been working on is helping prepare our Sunnyvale IT inventory for the move into a new location. Working at 23andMe has been an exciting opportunity so far, and I’ve learned much in the brief time I’ve spent here.
&nbsp;

<h6>Enyonam Odoom, Healthcare Operations Intern &#8211; Healthcare Operations <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Enyonam-O-150x150.png" alt="Photo of Enyonam Odoom" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-28974" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Enyonam-O-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Enyonam-O-300x300.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Enyonam-O-271x271.png 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Enyonam-O-372x372.png 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Enyonam-O.png 499w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></h6>
I&#8217;ve really enjoyed meeting with all the researchers at the company during my time here. Everyone, including researchers outside of my direct team, opened their calendars to me. It&#8217;s been a great opportunity to learn about what work is being done here, get career advice and mentorship, and just understand what working at 23andMe full time is like. I really appreciated that part of the internship. I&#8217;ve also loved learning more about how we can use genetics to help improve health, as that&#8217;s not something that was really emphasized while I was in school.
&nbsp;

<h6>Taylor Cavazos, Computational Biology Intern &#8211; Therapeutics<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Taylor-Cavazos_Headshot-150x150.jpg" alt="" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-29009" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Taylor-Cavazos_Headshot-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Taylor-Cavazos_Headshot-271x271.jpg 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Taylor-Cavazos_Headshot-372x372.jpg 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Taylor-Cavazos_Headshot-574x574.jpg 574w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Taylor-Cavazos_Headshot-980x980.jpg 980w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></h6>
As a computational biology intern with 23andMe’s Therapeutics team, I’m working on an exciting project that incorporates ancestry to identify variants in the human genome that alter our gene expression. It has been amazing to have the opportunity to conduct research at 23andMe that prioritizes the inclusion of diverse participants and has the potential to drive the development of new therapies. I not only enjoy working with the incredible researchers at 23andMe, but also the overall culture and environment that encourages creativity! 
&nbsp;

<h6>Mark McAdam, Secure Amazon Web Services Intern &#8211; Security <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Mark-McAdams-e1628805752795-150x150.jpg" alt="" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-29087" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Mark-McAdams-e1628805752795-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Mark-McAdams-e1628805752795-271x271.jpg 271w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></h6>
If Terraform feels like a superpower when it comes to provisioning resources in AWS, running Terragrunt on top of Terraform feels like managing a team of superheroes. It&#8217;s literally that powerful. I am on a team that is building an application stack that allows people to provision resources to use in AWS without having to worry if they are building it securely, the safeguards are in place. 
Every day I come to work, I get to rub shoulders with a team of brilliant individuals as I try to match their skill and enthusiasm. I get to work on solving problems that have real-world implications. 
&nbsp;

<h6>Cailyn Schiltz, Internal Communications Intern &#8211; Communications<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Cailyn-S-150x150.png" alt="" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-28969" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Cailyn-S-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Cailyn-S-300x300.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Cailyn-S-271x271.png 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Cailyn-S-372x372.png 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Cailyn-S.png 499w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></h6>
Working in Internal Comms has taught me just how important every facet of a company is. I planned a Customer Panel for National Sisters&#8217; Day, and getting to see the real-world impacts of 23andMe was so powerful. People find families and can learn life-changing information from their genetic reports, and none of that would be possible without everyone at the company doing their part. Internal Comms is the glue holding the whole operation together. 
This internship has challenged not only my writing skills, but my creativity and leadership skills. I was responsible for weekly newsletters, DEI initiatives, and redesigning the company intranet. What made it truly special was the culture at 23andMe and the incredible team I got to work with. I felt like my thoughts were valued and had an impact, and I was comfortable stepping outside of my comfort zone. Interning with 23andMe gave me experience in a new field, a broader perspective on what it means to be a communicator, and the confidence to push myself to learn.
&nbsp;

<h6>Bhairavi Swaminathan, Statistical Genetics Intern &#8211; Research<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/bhairavi-S-150x150.jpg" alt="" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-29008" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/bhairavi-S-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/bhairavi-S-271x271.jpg 271w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></h6>
My internship goal was to replicate and test a publicly available fine-mapping tool with publicly available GWAS data. I definitely learned a lot both in aspects of science and skill sets &#8211; I got to process large datasets and code in a new language. Working at 23andMe has been an amazing experience: I learned a lot about different roles in different departments. People are approachable, friendly, and excited about what they do. I especially enjoyed working with my mentor, Karl, and the discussions with my colleague, Pierre. 
&nbsp;

<h6>April Orozco, Environmental Health &amp; Safety Specialist Intern &#8211; Workplace <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/April-O-150x150.png" alt="A photo of April Orozco" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-28968" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/April-O-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/April-O-271x271.png 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/April-O-372x372.png 372w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></h6>
I am most proud of seeing the South San Francisco lab flourish even amidst a global pandemic! With EH&amp;S programs being more thoroughly developed as 23andMe&#8217;s Therapeutics department grows, I feel like I truly have been granted a one-of-a-kind opportunity to identify, develop, and mature EH&amp;S programs that can have a lasting effect. Also, everyone I have met in the office and virtually  have been remarkably open to filling in any gaps in my knowledge. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to dive into the field with a company fueled by such an amazing mission.
&nbsp;

<h6>Alix Henderson, Archives Intern &#8211; Office of the CEO<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Alix-H-150x150.png" alt="A photo of Alix Henderson" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-28976" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Alix-H-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Alix-H-271x271.png 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Alix-H-372x372.png 372w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></h6>
Learning about the 15 year history of 23andMe through its internal archive has been a unique experience within itself. I am most proud of the improvements I have made in organizing and formatting our archived documents for more successful search and retrieval by the 23andMe team. Advancing the accessibility of these documents promotes the efficiency and education of the company&#8217;s growing success. In partnership with the other Archives Intern, Christina Li, we have developed a written account of the history of 23andMe for onboarding team members to potentially utilize in the future. 
Being able to express the milestones that 23andMe has achieved through the years testifies to the culture of the company itself and why I have enjoyed working here through the summer. I have been challenged in developing my archival knowledge and promoted to connect with multiple departments to continue my growth as a student and young professional.
&nbsp;

<h6>Ayanna Ajilore, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Intern- People Team <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Ayanna-A-150x150.png" alt="A photo of Ayanna Ajilore" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-28964" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Ayanna-A-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Ayanna-A-271x271.png 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Ayanna-A-372x372.png 372w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></h6>
This was my first time working full-time in DEI, so this summer, I really wanted to learn not just about 23andMe but also if this is the type of work I really want to do every day. Fortunately, not only did I affirm that I love this work, but I also found a place that welcomes me to do it to my heart&#8217;s content.
My work involves having a lot of fingers in a lot of different pots, which gave me the chance to see different sides of the job. I  spent the summer actively working on projects to improve our company and our product which was really refreshing. Some companies and people shy away from confronting their issues in DEI, but here, I spend so much time just helping people figure out how to get past a hurdle on a current project or get started on a new one.
While we still have a long way to go, I believe that 23andMe is really a company to watch in this field and I hope that I am able to continue to contribute to its journey.

23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

Intern-al Perspectives

23andMe added eight new regions within North America reflecting Indigenous genetic ancestry. The addition is in response not just to requests from thousands of customers, but also as part of an ongoing effort to create a 23andMe Ancestry Service that better reflects the diverse genetic ancestries of our customers.
With guidance from experts including Indigenous scientists, our team worked to provide some customers who have Indigenous ancestry from what is now the United States and Canada with more detailed ancestry results. In parallel, we created an experience that is both educational and transparent, in which we explain why genetic ancestry results cannot be used to seek or confirm any form of Indigenous belonging such as membership in a Tribe or Nation.
In 2019, we added a feature called “<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/caribbean-latin-american/">Recent Ancestry in the Americas</a>,” which offers clues about our customers’ <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andme-adds-more-detail-for-indigenous-mexican-ancestry">ancestry from Mexico</a>, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. With this update in North America, we are now able to offer more detail about some customers’ Indigenous ancestry from what is now the U.S. and Canada, as well. Some customers will be seeing this update over the next several weeks as it is rolled out.
Customers can view their Ancestry Composition <a href="https://you.23andme.com/reports/ancestry_composition_hd/">here</a>.
<h3>What are the new regions?</h3>

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="700" height="536" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Regions-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28905" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Regions-1.png 700w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Regions-1-300x230.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></figure>
 
<h3></h3>
<h3>How was this analysis done?</h3>
<ol>
<li aria-level="1">To determine our reference groups, we selected customers with Indigenous American genetic ancestry who consented to participate in research and indicated in their <a href="https://you.23andme.com/research/surveys/family_origins_v2/">Family Origins survey</a> that at least one of their grandparents was affiliated with one North American Indigenous Tribe, Band, Sovereignty, First Nation, or other community. We excluded from the analysis any DNA predicted by our Ancestry Composition analysis to be inherited from a European, Asian, or African ancestor. In this way, we can ensure that the shared ancestry we are identifying was inherited from an Indigenous American ancestor.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Next, to uncover geographic patterns of Indigenous ancestry in what is now the US and Canada, we removed individuals from the analysis who shared large amounts of DNA with people whose grandparents were born in Mexico, Central America, South America, or the Caribbean.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Then, we used a technique called genetic clustering to identify potential groups of individuals who share higher levels of DNA with each other than they do with others in the analysis. These genetic groups became our reference groups for this feature, and we then are able to compare customers’ DNA to the DNA of individuals within these reference groups.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Finally, we generated maps based on where the individuals in these groups told us their grandparents who identified as Indigenous American were born.</li>
</ol>
For a more detailed explanation of the methods used in this analysis, visit our <a href="https://you.23andme.com/ancestry/indigenous-american-faqs/">Indigenous American ancestry FAQ page</a>.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="512" height="501" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Genetic-Cluster.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28904" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Genetic-Cluster.png 512w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Genetic-Cluster-300x294.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure>
 
<h3>Will customers’ percentages update?</h3>
No. For a given Indigenous North American region match we indicate our confidence in the result, reported as &#8220;likely match,&#8221; or &#8220;highly likely match.&#8221; This works the same way as our Recent Ancestor Locations feature. If we are not able to detect a genetic match to a region with confidence, we report this as &#8220;not detected.&#8221;
This update will only affect customers who already have Indigenous American genetic ancestry as estimated by 23andMe’s Ancestry Composition algorithm. In other words, if you did not already have some percentage of DNA predicted to match our Indigenous American reference population, then you cannot receive a match to one of these eight new regions. 
Furthermore, not everyone with Indigenous American ancestry will receive a match to a region at this time.
<h3>How many customers can expect to get a match to one of the new regions?</h3>
Fewer than 10 percent of customers with some Indigenous American genetic ancestry will receive a match at this time, though this number may be higher for customers with known Indigenous ancestry from North America. The science behind this update is both rigorous and conservative, meaning we focused on ensuring that there were as few false matches as possible. As a result of this approach, there will be some individuals with known Indigenous American ancestry from North America who do not receive a match to any region at this time. We understand that not seeing an expected match can be confusing, but our ability to match someone to a region based on DNA is only as good as the size and diversity of the reference groups and algorithms used to predict them. Over time, as more people with Indigenous American ancestors join 23andMe, customers’ results may change.  More information about unexpected results can be found in our <a href="https://you.23andme.com/ancestry/indigenous-american-faqs/">FAQs</a>.
<h3>What are the new regions?</h3>

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Region-Maps.001-1024x576.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-29044" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Region-Maps.001-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Region-Maps.001-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Region-Maps.001-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Region-Maps.001-880x495.jpeg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Region-Maps.001-1180x664.jpeg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Region-Maps.001.jpeg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
 
<ul>
<li>Alaska: Grandparents of individuals within this genetic reference group were primarily born in what is now known as Alaska, as well as some parts of western Canada.</li>
<li>Columbia River Basin: Grandparents of individuals within this genetic reference group were primarily born in what is now known as Washington, as well as some parts of southwestern Canada, Idaho, and Oregon.</li>
<li>Great Basin &amp; Colorado River Basin: Grandparents of individuals within this genetic reference group were primarily born in what is now known as Nevada and California, as well as parts of Arizona and southern Idaho.</li>
<li>Great Lakes and Canada: Grandparents of individuals within this genetic reference group were primarily born in what is now known as the Upper Midwest of the U.S., including Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, as well as some parts of North Dakota, Montana, Oklahoma, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, and central and southern Canada.</li>
<li>Northeast: Grandparents of individuals within this genetic reference group were primarily born in what is now known as New York, as well as other U.S. states in the Northeast, including Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Maine. Some individuals’ grandparents were born in parts of Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Oklahoma.</li>
<li>Plains: Grandparents of individuals within this genetic reference group were primarily born in what is now known as South Dakota, as well as some parts of Oklahoma, North Dakota, Montana, southern Minnesota, and Nebraska.</li>
<li>South Central: Grandparents of individuals within this genetic reference group were primarily born in what is now known as Oklahoma, as well as parts of Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, and Mississippi.</li>
<li>Southwest: Grandparents of individuals within this genetic reference group were primarily born in what is now known as New Mexico, as well as parts of Oklahoma, Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. 
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Here’s why we took our time getting this right</h3>
There are a few reasons we’ve been unable to provide additional geographic clues about our customers’ Indigenous American ancestry through DNA to date, including:
<ol>
<li aria-level="1">There has been a centuries-long eradication of Indigenous peoples by the settler-colonist societies of North America (including cultural assimilation and forced resettlements). This history makes it difficult for geneticists to distinguish biogeographic ancestry from different parts of North America.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Having observed decades of exploitation of Indigenous peoples at the hands of researchers from a host of biomedical disciplines, many Indigenous American leaders, activists, and scientists have advocated for greater community involvement in research, and cautioned their communities to require reassurances from scientists who seek to work with them, such as through collaboration, data sharing, and education about consent. In an effort to protect their communities, some Indigenous scientists and Tribal leaders have even called for outright moratoriums on genetic research.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Furthermore, as explored in greater detail in <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/ancestry-reports/native-american-dna/">this blog post</a>, many Indigenous scientists and activists are concerned about how the genetic ancestry testing industry creates an environment that implicitly allows and sometimes encourages consumers to misunderstand their DNA results and use those results to claim belonging or kinship with an Indigenous group. In large part, these concerns are centered on the potential for <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-ancestry" target="_blank" rel="noopener">genetic ancestry</a> tests to impact the sovereignties of North American First Nations and Tribes, such as when consumers attempt to access tangible or intangible benefits of membership through their DNA results, undermining an Indigenous Nation’s sovereign right to determine membership in the manner they choose.</li>
</ol>
<h3>What steps did our team take to mitigate potential harm to Indigenous sovereignties while providing additional geographic detail?</h3>
<ol>
<li aria-level="1">With guidance from experts including Indigenous scientists, we created an <a href="https://you.23andme.com/ancestry/indigenous-american-faqs/">educational page</a> with answers to common questions about this update, and information about how 23andMe defines Indigenous American genetic ancestry. This page is easily discoverable to customers through their results, and it is also viewable by the public.</li>
<li aria-level="1">In providing these new regions, and following recommendations by advisors, we did not use information about Tribe or Indigenous Nation affiliation to curate the genetic groups. Furthermore, because cultural, Tribe, Nation, or ethnic affiliation was not used to curate these groups — and because Indigenous peoples are not discrete genetic groups — each of the eight regions likely reflect ancestry from many Tribes or First Nations.</li>
<li aria-level="1">To create the region maps, we used only the customers’ reported grandparent birth locations, minimizing biased data curation.</li>
<li aria-level="1">We are transparent about the methods that were used to determine these regions as well as the methods used to provide customers with matches to these regions.</li>
<li aria-level="1">We have published educational material available to the public about how genetic ancestry testing can impact Indigenous sovereignties and peoples, including <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/ancestry-reports/native-american-dna/">this recent blog post</a>.</li>
</ol>
We hope that this update will inspire many to learn more about the complex histories and diversity of Indigenous Peoples in North America in a manner that respects the ways in which Indigenous Peoples define themselves.

A map of the bio-geographic ancestral regions that include the Columbia River Basin, the Great Basin & Colorado River Basin, Great Lakes& Canada, the Northeast, South Central, the Plains and Southwest.

A new analysis sheds light on some customers’ Indigenous genetic ancestry from North America

 Introducing 23andMe’s 2021 Summer Interns, Part I

23andMe’s CEO and Co-founder Anne Wojcicki rang the opening bell on<a href="https://www.nasdaq.com/"> Nasdaq</a> Thursday morning, celebrating our first day as a publicly-traded company.
Anne took a moment during the virtual bell-ringing ceremony to thank customers, employees, and investors for their support. From the company’s founding in 2006, 23andMe (Nasdaq: ME)&nbsp; hasn’t wavered from its mission to help people access, understand and benefit from the human genome. Now more than ever, the time is ripe for 23andMe to change how people engage in their health, and to improve how new genetic research and drug discovery are done.
&nbsp;

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/mo-06172112-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-28989" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/mo-06172112-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/mo-06172112-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/mo-06172112-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/mo-06172112-880x587.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/mo-06172112-1180x787.jpg 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
 
Below is a version of the remarks Anne shared during the ceremony:
In 2005 I was working on Wall Street investing in health care when I had a call with a genetic researcher. I asked him about the state of genetics research and he said, “The excitement is palpable. Everything is going to change. We are going to understand the human genetic code.”
The sense of excitement that I felt in that conversation in 2005 remains with me today. We are unlocking one of the most exciting human mysteries. This simple code &#8211; A C G and T &#8211; has built this incredible world, all this diversity. It is truly amazing. 

I want to thank our customers &#8211; all 11M of you. It has been a journey! Together we have shown the world that you are capable of getting YOUR genetic information and learning about your <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry" target="_blank" rel="noopener">health and ancestry</a> &#8211; all without the supervision of a medical professional. You are far more capable of understanding science or taking charge of your health than the world believes. I want to thank you for believing in 23andMe and trusting us to unlock your DNA. We are committed to being your advocate and to always providing you transparency and choice with how your DNA is used. We will always make decisions based on what is best for you.
23andMe was founded in 2006 with a passion and love for genetics and a desire to empower individuals to be in control of their health. I was surrounded by incredible co-workers then and I am lucky to have been surrounded by incredible people ever since. As I think about how we have gotten to this day, I want to thank everyone who has ever worked at 23andMe. We have an incredible Gene Pool. It is a true honor to have so many talented people working on this dream and making today happen. I have my moments where I sometimes just sit back and marvel &#8211; you are all SO good. So thanks to all of you. 

I also want to thank my investors and my board. You have stuck with me through hard times and good times. You have provided incredible insights and support. This has not been easy but the work we are doing genuinely changes the world. Thank you for helping us get to this moment &#8211; this is just the beginning of our story.
Lastly, I want to conclude with where we are going. 23andMe is more than just a genetics company. We are an activist brand that is approaching health care and drug discovery with the individual at the center, as our partner. We are going to continue pioneering a consumer-centered personalized health care world. We are going to show that drug discovery can be more efficient when you start with a human genetic insight. Over the past 15 years our mission has never wavered: to help people access, understand and benefit from the human genome. In the next phase of the company, I want to show all of you that you are benefiting from the human genome by actually living a longer, healthier life.&nbsp; 

I want to end with a quote from one of my colleagues when I asked him why he has stayed at the company for over a decade. He responded with a quizzical look: “If we don’t do this work, no one will.”&nbsp;&nbsp; 

Thank you to everyone. What we do is important. You are changing the world.&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;

Ringing in 23andMe’s Next Chapter

By L. Okey Onyejekwe Jr., MD, JD,  23andMe’s Vice President of Healthcare Operations and Medical Affairs
Why did we need a separate month for Black history? I’ve answered this question many times and heard it asked many times more. At its most innocuous, it’s a silly question. Yet it&#8217;s a dangerous one regardless of intent. For one, the health disparity data points that I’ll be reflecting on below—sobering by any account—won’t surprise you. You know them, at the very least by implication. Black people between 18 and 50 are two times more likely than whites to die from heart disease, and Black children are eight<a href="https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=4&amp;lvlid=15"> times more likely</a> to die from asthma, etc.
I couldn’t shock you with the data even if I delivered it with lightning. Indeed, the implications of this question go far beyond “history.” So rather than trying to wow you with sobering statistics, or dignify the question with an answer, I thought I’d share why I’m unusually hopeful as we conclude this Black History Month.
<h2>A Reservoir of Hope</h2>
The perspectives I share here are those of a healthcare provider who happens also to be Black. Being Black in America requires drawing on an endless reservoir of hope of what could be, and not what is.
So hope is not new for me, even though the events of the past year tested that outlook. I saw a Black man murdered by police officers—his agonizing transition from a full life all the way to death captured on camera for eternity. I cried because he’s a son, and I have sons. I raged because it happened again, and I told you—we all have been telling you—that it would. But mostly I despaired at the fact that I know—we all know—that justice will not be served once again. That’s always the most painful part.
Then there was the Black man killed by white racist civilians for JWB (jogging while black). The killers got to go home and have dinner with family that evening, no questions asked, and for months afterward. And of course, there was the young woman, murdered by police in her own home. She’ll never get to write about her own experience as a Black healthcare professional. As always, no one will face justice for it. And there was so much more.
So how is it possible that I have any hope as a father of a boy who’s so full of life, another boy who loves running, and a daughter who too aspires to be a healthcare professional?

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="512" height="384" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Okey-and-kids-at-BLM-march.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28781" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Okey-and-kids-at-BLM-march.png 512w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Okey-and-kids-at-BLM-march-300x225.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure>
 
<h2>An Inflection Point?</h2>
None of this was new to me, to us. The shock, if there was any, didn’t come from us. We’ve been crying out loud over this type of injustice for years. But in 2020, at least for a moment, it seemed like other people cared.
Will it last?  We did see that racism was <a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/health-equity/ama-racism-threat-public-health">finally recognized by the AMA</a> and other organizations as a public health threat for the first time ever.  The policy acknowledges that “the primary drivers of racial health inequity are systemic and structural racism” and that “racism and unconscious bias within medical research and health care delivery have caused and continue to cause harm to marginalized communities and society as a whole.” To one desperate to nail down a foundation on something hopeful, this was a hammer. A tool. Something I can actually build with.
Of course, there was another pandemic in 2020, also with disproportionate effects, killing Black people at <a href="https://covidtracking.com/race">1.6 times the rate of white people</a>. Research from 23andMe, the company where I work, found that Black customers who consented to participate in our research are <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/impact-disparities-of-covid-19/">80 percent more likely</a> than whites to be hospitalized from COVID-19. Beyond that, Black and other underrepresented communities are also much less likely to be included — or are much less willing to participate — in health research. That includes the <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2021971">most recent clinical trials</a> for COVID-19 vaccines.
This kind of disparity is more than just the problem of Black people. It’s a recognized public health problem. In fact, it’s an unacceptable deviation from the standard of care.
<h2>Taking Action</h2>
The significance of this shift cannot be overstated. Even before the pandemic, there were concerted efforts to take action.
The National Institutes of Health&#8217;s <a href="http://allofus.nih.gov/">All of Us</a> Precision Medicine Initiative is recruiting a million Americans, particularly from underrepresented communities, for genetic health research. The Veteran&#8217;s Administration&#8217;s <a href="https://www.research.va.gov/mvp/">Million Veterans Program</a> is doing much the same.
23andMe has spent more than a decade focused on diversifying its research database to improve our study of diseases like Parkinson’s, within all populations. While we still have a long way to go, 23andMe now has one of the largest, if not the largest, groups of African Americans consented to participate in genetic research in the world. But these types of efforts can no longer be optional outliers. They must indeed become the norm if they are to be within the standard of care.
These efforts and others will lead to new insights into human biology, better and more equitable clinical care, and improved outcomes for everyone. But we still have so much more work to do. At 23andMe we pledged to <a href="https://www.23andme.com/black-lives-matter">hold ourselves accountable</a> to make improvements to ensure our people, products, and practices are more diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
It’s a pledge we could all make, especially right now. It amounts to doing more than just hoping for change. It means making a plan to change so that everyone benefits from the scientific insights we learn through research, and all of us have the chance for equitable healthcare.

Hope, Healthcare, and Black Lives

Healthcare providers are used to the unexpected from patients showing up in the clinic: A scan ordered for liver symptoms might reveal a spot in the lungs. Irregular findings on a blood test during an annual physical exam might lead to follow-up tests for leukemia.&nbsp;



But what happens when a DNA test gives your patient a surprising result about family relationships? 



More surprises are being revealed with more people engaging in direct-to-consumer tests like 23andMe that share information about genetic relationships between customers. 



If you work with a patient who comes into the clinic with a surprise DNA family discovery, below are a few questions you should ask yourself to help your patient navigate this unexpected discovery. <code></code>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-is-this-affecting-my-patient">How is this affecting my patient?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="300" height="300" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/dna-300x300.png" alt="An illustration showing a double helix strand of DNA" class="wp-image-25152" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/dna-300x300.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/dna-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/dna-271x271.png 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/dna-372x372.png 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/dna-574x574.png 574w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/dna.png 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></figure>



Surprise findings of family relationships uncovered by a <a href="https://www.23andme.com/">DNA test</a> can have an emotional impact, and the discovery could impact your patient’s health. 



Probably the most dramatic impact would be if a patient discovered through DNA testing that their parents are not their biological parents. To handle such a discovery, a healthcare provider can offer understanding and grief support. 



Beyond that potentially traumatic experience are other surprises that could impact a person’s sense of identity. For instance, a patient could learn that the ethnicity they have always identified with is different. Not everyone is quick to adjust to unexpected changes in the way they <a href="https://slate.com/technology/2020/07/dna-test-ancestry-results-identity.html">self-identify in the world</a>. 



However, perhaps most relevant for a healthcare provider is that discovering new genetic connections would change a patient’s reported family health history, a cornerstone for many medical records. A patient may be forced to disregard their family medical history and be unable to replace it immediately with an accurate report. For some people, it is a long road to identify a newfound biological parent, make contact with them, request family medical information, and receive answers. For some, that information might never come. 



A healthcare provider should consider the different aspects and impacts of a family discovery, let your patient know they are not alone in their experience, and begin looking into the options. Referring them to the <a href="https://you.23andme.com/public/unexpected-relationships">Navigating Unexpected Relationships</a> page on the 23andMe customer website, if they have not already found their way to it, can be a great start.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="512" height="289" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/DNAR.png" alt="An example of how to opt into DNA Relatives that includes a warning." class="wp-image-28736" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/DNAR.png 512w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/DNAR-300x169.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">23andMe asks customers whether they wish to connect to DNA relatives and reminds them that they may find unexpected results.</figcaption></figure>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diana-s-story-a-case-study-of-an-unexpected-dna-discovery">Diana’s story, a case study of an unexpected DNA Discovery:</h6>



As a proactive person about her health, Diana spoke with her physician about direct-to-consumer DNA testing. He said using 23andMe was a nice way for her to explore genetics.  Both were shocked when a match in her DNA Relatives results listed matches that revealed she had a different biological father. 



This discovery is known as an NPE (a “not parent expected” discovery) in genealogy. While this kind of thing is well known enough to warrant an acronym, neither Diana nor her doctor were sure what to do once the discovery was made. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-into-whose-domain-does-this-concern-fall">Into whose domain does this concern fall?</h2>



This discovery had a huge impact on Diana. She described how it changed not just her sense of identity but also certain relationships in her life. But are those impacts relevant to her doctor? 



The short answer is yes. The medical field has branched into specialties to address the specific needs of patients, whether their issues involve the workings of the heart or of the mind. If a patient is distressed by a family discovery, they may need support from someone in the mental health space.



If a patient comes to them after making a significant discovery from one of these tests, a doctor may have to be able to answer questions about the accuracy or meaning of a test finding.  A healthcare professional may need to refer their patient to someone in genetics and family relationships for follow-up testing. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-medical-questions">Medical Questions</h2>



If the questions raised by the test are medical in nature, think of three professionals: medical geneticists, genetic nurses, and certified genetic counselors. These specialists work in many different areas—cancer, prenatal and preconception, neurology, metabolism—and are your partners in helping patients navigate the unexpected findings from DNA tests.&nbsp;



For Diana, her surprising discovery even led her to change plans. She had to visit the place she had believed to be her ancestral homeland. She discovered online resources like the Watershed DNA online forum where members discuss online and over weekly video calls the aspects of surprise DNA discoveries that impact them. Here’s what Diana had to say about what she wishes her doctor had done during the testing process:



&#8220;I wish my doctor had executed the same proactive approach to my NPE discovery and mental health as he did for my physical health. It isn&#8217;t enough to warn your patient that they might discover some unsettling news but to be prepared on how to lead your patient if that trauma occurs. A simple handout with a list of resources would have been enough to get me started. Not only would it have pointed me in the direction of healing, but it would also have been tangible evidence that I wasn&#8217;t alone in this experience.&#8221;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preparation-for-the-unexpected-is-key">Preparation for the Unexpected is Key</h2>



Most people who undergo DNA testing and opt-in to view DNA relatives do not receive a surprise like Diana’s. Most customers <a href="https://www.23andme.com/stories/">learn more</a> about health information, make expected connections to family, or confirm what they know about their genetic ancestors. 



Most healthcare providers will find a different set of questions a patient hopes to answer when talking with them about their 23andMe results. Being prepared for any situation that arises from a DNA test is key to being ready when a patient reaches out to discuss 23andMe.



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="300" height="267" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/image001-300x267.jpg" alt="Brianne Kirkpatrick" class="wp-image-28650" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/image001-300x267.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/image001-1024x911.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/image001-768x683.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/image001-880x783.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/image001-1180x1050.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/image001.jpg 1596w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Brianne Kirkpatrick, MS, LCGC</figcaption></figure>



Brianne Kirkpatrick is a genetic counselor and DNA consultant. She previously wrote about <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/ancestry-reports/dna-testing-for-adoptees/">DNA testing and adult adoptees for the blog.</a> She founded Watershed DNA and the author of the book DNA Guide for Adoptees. An alumnus of Indiana University and Northwestern University, Brianne is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors, American Board of Genetic Counseling, American Counseling Association, and International Society of Genetic Genealogy. She lives in Crozet, Virginia, with her husband and their three children.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />

A photo of a doctor showing a patient information on a digital tablet.

Brianne Kirkpatrick

Navigating Family DNA Surprises, A Guide for Healthcare Providers

By Joe Banks, 23andMe Tech Lead
Editor’s note: This post by 23andMe’s Joe Banks, first appeared on 23andMe’s engineering blog. We’re reprinting an excerpt of it here to highlight issues around online accessibility and ideas for improving it. You can see the full version <a href="https://medium.com/23andme-engineering/accessibility-and-me-812c362031d2">here</a>.
I have a disability. Two, actually.
I was diagnosed with Usher Syndrome Type 2A, a rare genetic disease characterized by hearing loss and progressive vision loss.
When I was 3, my parents discovered that I was born with moderate-severe hearing loss in both of my ears. I was fitted with a pair of hearing aids, devices that would allow me to finally understand and hear my family.&nbsp;
The vision loss has had more of a profound impact on my life. While I knew that I was going blind, it didn’t feel real to me until I was in my 20s. I started to bump into people more frequently, which was followed by a quick apology by me and a glaring stare by the one whose space I invaded. Driving became increasingly difficult. For the safety of others and myself, I stopped driving at age 25. A few years later, I would learn how to use a white cane.&nbsp;
My visual field has narrowed from 180 degrees of visual field to less than 10 degrees. At this point, I’m considered legally blind and someone who has low vision.
&nbsp;

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="921" height="1024" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/1-H-8KJLI4jqzxEbpJPPBEw-921x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28733" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/1-H-8KJLI4jqzxEbpJPPBEw-921x1024.png 921w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/1-H-8KJLI4jqzxEbpJPPBEw-270x300.png 270w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/1-H-8KJLI4jqzxEbpJPPBEw-768x854.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/1-H-8KJLI4jqzxEbpJPPBEw-791x880.png 791w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/1-H-8KJLI4jqzxEbpJPPBEw-1061x1180.png 1061w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/1-H-8KJLI4jqzxEbpJPPBEw.png 1400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 921px) 100vw, 921px" /></figure>
 
Today, I continue to do what I love: building websites — here at 23andMe I’m a tech lead writing the code that powers 23andMe’s website — and lifting heavy metal as well as enjoying the outdoors.&nbsp;
At work, I visually scan my computer screen with the vision I have left, increase the contrast and brightness of my screen, enlarge my mouse cursor, zoom in on smaller text, and use my keyboard as much as I comfortably can.
But even with these tools at my disposal, I run into issues that are difficult to overcome while browsing the web.&nbsp;
I’m sharing my experience both as someone with disabilities and as a tech lead at 23andMe, to highlight actions engineers, designers and others can take to fix the issues that exclude people with disabilities. The beauty of much of the technology today—like smartphones, computers, and the Web—is that they&#8217;re designed to be accessible to people with disabilities. Engineers, like me, who build on these platforms, have the responsibility to uphold this design, and not break it. Below are issues that I have personally experienced and steps engineers and web designers can take to fix these types of issues.

<h2>Accessibility issues that affect me</h2>
<h6>Low color contrast</h6>
I have enough functional vision to read text on a screen, but my sensitivity to contrast has diminished over time. I opt to increase the contrast and brightness on my computer screen, but that only can get me so far.
Low contrast text is a trendy design pattern, but it fails to consider how it affects people with low vision. Unfortunately, this practice is so popular that it ranks as the number one most common accessibility violation found in the <a href="https://webaim.org/projects/million/">WebAIM Million</a>, an accessibility audit of the one million most-visited home pages on the web.
I tend to skip over text that has low contrast because it’s too much of a strain to read it. I know that others like me with low vision, have the same issues. It’s common for me to leave a website or trash an email if the content is too difficult to read. A simple and subtle change in contrast to the design could open all that content to others who are visually impaired.&nbsp;
It’s simple to first check the contrast and then fix it if it falls below the threshold that is visible to the people with low vision. To measure contrast ratio, you can use <a href="https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/">WebAIM’s contrast checker</a>, or something similar. Enter the text color and background color, and the checker will tell you if the contrast ratio passes.
While testing for color contrast is easy, changing a color palette that’s been tied to a brand, like 23andMe, can be difficult. However, that isn’t an excuse to avoid the problem. After all, continuing to use a color palette that’s discriminatory to people with low vision is not good for a brand.
At 23andMe, <a href="https://style.23andme.com/">our design system</a> provides a color palette that indicates what colors meet the <a href="https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/Understanding/contrast-minimum.html">minimum color contrast (AA) set by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)</a>. This shared knowledge ensures that designers and developers are on the same page when it comes to accessible color usage.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="512" height="338" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/23andMe-Color-Palette.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28734" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/23andMe-Color-Palette.png 512w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/23andMe-Color-Palette-300x198.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure>
 
<h6>Inability to zoom</h6>
Another issue that people with low vision experience is the inability to magnify the text to make it more readable. Fixing that is also pretty straightforward by ensuring that the site isn’t restricting or disabling the zoom function.&nbsp;
<h6>No captions</h6>
While my hearing aids help me hear, they don’t completely restore my hearing. I’ll still miss words when listening to speech and I tend to subconsciously lip read when I’m talking to someone. When watching a video, I don’t always have the benefit of lip reading, so that’s when captions come in handy for me.
At 23andMe, we host our videos on YouTube. One of the great features of the platform is automatic captioning. This provides a quick and easy way for video authors to include captions in their videos. However, the quality of captions can vary, so it’s best practice to validate the captions in the video settings and make any corrections where needed. This ensures that the correct information is being communicated.
<h6>CAPTCHAs</h6>
I personally hate CAPTCHAs. Although they’re intended to prevent spam by distinguishing a human from a bot, for people with visual impairments are just another hurdle to accessing content.&nbsp; As someone with low vision, there’s nothing more frustrating than filling out a form and reaching a CAPTCHA where I repeatedly fail at scanning low-res photos for obscure objects. And what’s the alternative? Making out words in an audio track with distracting background noise? That’s also really difficult for me to accomplish with my hearing impairment.
I’m not alone. <a href="https://webaim.org/projects/screenreadersurvey7/#problematic">WebAIM’s 2017 screen reader survey</a> respondents agree that CAPTCHAs are the number one most problematic issue they face on the web.
Determining if someone is a robot is a tough problem to solve and there isn&#8217;t a clear solution. Non-interactive solutions, like Google&#8217;s reCaptcha v3, are great for accessibility. However, since users are tracked, privacy rights need to be considered and handled appropriately. In addition, methods to handle ambiguous results need to also be accessible and effective at blocking bots. My hopes are that the solutions developed for CAPTCHA consider people with disabilities and don&#8217;t lock them out.
To learn more about the challenges with CAPTCHA and accessibility, check out W3C’s document on the <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/turingtest/">Inaccessibility of CAPTCHA</a>.
<h6>Moving forward</h6>
My journey with Usher Syndrome is still unfolding and I’m learning along the way. While I’ve accepted that this is my reality, I have an uneasy feeling about the current state of the web and what that means for my future. I’d like to continue being independent on the web, but I will need the help of the tech community to build experiences that I can continue to access and enjoy as my vision loss progresses.
In February 2020, WebAIM reevaluated the state of web accessibility for the top one million visited websites. Unfortunately, things have gotten worse since last year. Ninety-eight percent of the top million failed the accessibility audit. The kicker is that the audit only covered 30 percent of accessibility bugs.
This is a big problem. We need to do better.&nbsp; If we’ve learned anything from this pandemic, it is that access to the web whether it is for work, online learning, entertainment, or even simple social interactions is crucial for everybody.
At 23andMe, we’ve acknowledged this and have put an enormous effort towards making our digital experiences accessible. We&#8217;ve been working on educating colleagues about accessibility through talks, workshops, demos, online resources, and tickets addressing accessibility issues. Our design system requires components to be accessible and documents proper usage and accessibility considerations. To help prevent regressions, engineers are trained and provided documentation on how to evaluate accessibility with an automated scan, a keyboard, and a screen reader. The work continues, but we&#8217;re happy with the progress that we have made for our users.
I’ll end this with a few tips on getting started with accessibility. The breadth of accessibility topics can be pretty overwhelming, but starting somewhere is better than avoiding the problem.
<h6>Find where you can help and get involved</h6>
Accessibility is not just a front-end engineering problem.&nbsp;
If you have a role in making digital experiences that people use, then you should be familiar with how your decisions impact people with disabilities. For examples on how each role can contribute to accessibility, check out <a href="https://accessibility-for-teams.com/">Accessibility for Teams</a> and <a href="https://developers.google.com/web/fundamentals/accessibility/a11y-for-teams">Accessibility for Teams by Google</a>.
<h6>Learn about accessibility and share the knowledge</h6>
I started understanding accessibility when I began manually evaluating interfaces with a keyboard and a screen reader. I saw how bad the UX could be when accessibility is overlooked and how some features were completely unusable… and it was everywhere.
This prompted me to go back and re-evaluate how I was building websites. I browsed through <a href="https://webaim.org/articles/">WebAIM’s articles</a> on accessibility, watched through <a href="https://www.udacity.com/course/web-accessibility--ud891">Google’s online accessibility course</a> and used the <a href="https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/quickref/">WCAG as a quick reference</a>.&nbsp;
The point is, when you find out how you play a role in accessibility (see previous section), start digging into the topics where you can make the most impact.&nbsp;
Then, share that knowledge with your colleagues. At 23andMe, we’ve organized workshops, demos, meetings, and a company-wide presentation on a11y. In addition, we’ve curated documentation on a11y and created an #accessibility Slack channel where people can ask questions.
I invite you to start learning about accessibility and making the web a more inclusive place. At 23andMe, our mission is to help people access, understand and benefit from the human genome. We’re doing our best to include everyone in this pursuit. If you’d like to help us, please send feedback to our customer care team.&nbsp;
<h6>About the Author</h6>
Joe Banks is a tech lead at 23andMe and helps write the code for www.23andMe.com. He loves learning about new tech and aspires to make the Web more inclusive.

Accessibility and Me

Like most offices in Silicon Valley, these days 23andMe’s headquarters is largely vacant as employees have adjusted to working from home during the pandemic. But that hasn’t stopped us all from admiring the innovative design that went into the construction of the 145,500-square-foot building and how it is now being managed.
It’s comforting to know we’re not the only ones who noticed, and this week we learned that the U.S. Green Building Council recognized 23andMe for designing and managing its offices with energy efficiency, waste reduction, and sustainability in mind.
<h6>Going Green</h6>
The council awarded 23andMe with a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum designation for its Sunnyvale office building. The designation is based on a green building rating. Through design, construction, and operations practices that improve environmental and human health, LEED-certified buildings are helping to make the world more sustainable.
&#8220;We strive to ensure our work environments are designed and operated to achieve high performance, improve human health and protect the environment,” said Jason Lester, 23andMe’s Director of Workplace Experience. “Obtaining LEED Platinum certification for our Sunnyvale location demonstrates our commitment to doing so.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.usgbc.org/help/what-leed">LEED</a> is a globally recognized green building rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. Achieving LEED certification helps:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Save money in energy, water, maintenance, and waste</li>
<li aria-level="1">Improve health with cleaner air, access to daylight, and reduced pollution</li>
<li aria-level="1">Reduce energy and carbon emissions with water conservation, reduced waste, use green materials, and sustainable strategies</li>
</ul>
Buildings like 23andMe’s Sunnyvale office earn points across several categories for various green building strategies in order to achieve LEED Certification. There are four possible LEED rating levels that can be achieved:
<h6>LEED Platinum</h6>
23andMe achieved LEED Platinum Certification by implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions in areas including sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.
23andMe has also gone above and beyond the majority of LEED Certified buildings by ensuring that paints and coatings, flooring, insulation, and other composite wood materials in the Sunnyvale building were installed to meet stringent emission testing standards.
<h6>Looking Ahead</h6>
Though COVID-19 guidelines are currently preventing the majority of Sunnyvale employees from returning to the office, members of our Workplace team have remained in the offices developing the most optimal environment for employees to eventually return to. This includes benefits like:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Over 20 percent energy savings including the use of onsite renewable energy generation</li>
<li aria-level="1">Over 40 percent reduction of indoor water use</li>
<li aria-level="1">Higher indoor air quality due to enhanced ventilation and low-emitting material selection.</li>
</ul>
In the coming months, the work to maintain these standards will continue in preparation for a time when employees will be able to come back to work safely.

23andMe Awarded LEED Platinum Status for HQ’s Environmental Design  

23andMe recently received two additional privacy certifications from third-party auditors, while successfully re-certifying an existing security certification.
ISO certifications are awarded after extensive audits by independent third-parties. An international standard-setting organization develops the standards for each certification. In line with this commitment, 23andMe asked independent third-party auditors, Schellman &amp; Company,  to test and assess 23andMe against the standards for security and privacy under the ISO 27001, ISO 27701, and ISO 27018 certification. 23andMe is the first direct-to-consumer <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-29797 size-full" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Privacy-Feature-Image-Wide.jpg" alt="An image of a lock a computer, DNA and a mobile phone representing security protections." width="1562" height="800" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Privacy-Feature-Image-Wide.jpg 1562w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Privacy-Feature-Image-Wide-300x154.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Privacy-Feature-Image-Wide-768x393.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Privacy-Feature-Image-Wide-1024x524.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Privacy-Feature-Image-Wide-880x451.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Privacy-Feature-Image-Wide-1180x604.jpg 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1562px) 100vw, 1562px" />
<h6>Security Standards</h6>
23andMe’s first certification, which we first received in 2019, is <a href="https://www.schellman.com/certificate-directory">ISO 27001</a>. We started with that certification because it is one of the most widely recognized and internationally accepted information security standards. It identifies requirements and specifications for a comprehensive Information Security Management System (ISMS). This defines how an organization should manage and treat information more securely, including applicable security controls. 23andMe’s ISO 27001 certification was recently re-certified, an achievement built on all the great work that teams across the company did to support security and privacy since the beginning.
But we didn’t stop there. This year, 23andMe added two privacy-focused ISO certifications —ISO 27701 and ISO 27018 — to complement our ISO 27001 certification. What do these certifications mean?
<h6>Protecting Privacy Rights</h6>
The first, ISO 27701, is a new standard for protecting the privacy rights of individuals. It is an extension of the standards that are part of ISO 27001, and requires a Privacy Information Management System. Some of the key requirements of an ISO 27701 certification include privacy awareness training, privacy notices, supporting consumer privacy rights, and more.
The other certification, ISO 27018, establishes commonly accepted controls and guidelines to protect Personal Information in cloud computing environments. Some key requirements for ISO 27018 include encouraging accountability via breach notification procedures and having more stringent security requirements for cloud services providers.
Every year, a third-party auditor will validate that 23andMe can demonstrate on-going compliance with these ISO certificates. These certifications act as additional proof of our commitment to information security and privacy and providing the most trusted experience for our customers. Privacy and Security are in our DNA, and we have the certifications to prove it.
To learn more about our privacy and security practices, please take a look at our <a href="https://www.23andme.com/privacy/?nav2=true">Privacy Center</a>.

Inside 23andMe — Page 3