Empowering People with Disabilities: Leveraging Technology Knowledge for Employment Opportunities
The
CDC reports that about one in four American adults have some type of
disability. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 2.5 billion
disabled people will need to use one or more assistive technologies in 2030.
Rapid advances in technology are leading to new tools in the workplace. These
tools are empowering people with disabilities. Barriers in the workplace are
being dismantled. Disabled people now have ways to improve access to education,
skills development, and employment.
The picture
shows a man sitting in a wheelchair with his laptop open.
Assistive
technologies
Assistive
technologies help people with disabilities to perform functions and tasks that
would otherwise be difficult or impossible for them. They can interact with
technology using their voices, eye movements, switches, subtle muscle
movements, or even their brains. Blind people use software that can read text
on the screen in a computer-generated voice. Those with speech impairments can
use a device that speaks out loud as they enter text via a keyboard. People
with limited hand function can use a special mouse to operate a computer.
Smartphones with speech recognition and voice-activated assistants allow more
people to use them.
Disabled
individuals using assistive technologies often find it critical to know how to
get more storage on their iPhone. When iPhone storage full, they can batch delete
apps, photos, and other data. If they don’t want to delete anything there are
other ways to cleanup iPhones. They can optimize photo storage, and change
image file format and video resolution. It is also possible to remove downloads
from streaming apps and offload apps instead of deleting them. Investing in
iCloud is another way to increase storage space. Third-party apps are also
available to clean up an iPhone and gain extra storage space.
Digital platform
accessibility
Accessibility
to digital platforms and content is critical for disabled individuals in the
workplace. Businesses need to leverage technology to improve their
accessibility. Accessibility features may include:
● Video transcriptions
● Closed captions
● Alternative text for images
● Keyboard navigation
● Color contrast
Plug-ins
are available that can improve the readability of text for visually impaired
users. They may implement a high-contrast interface design.
When
they comply with accessibility guidelines and standards, businesses create a
more inclusive workplace. This can afford them a number of benefits. It can
improve recruitment, enhance productivity, and create a stronger brand
identity.
Learning
opportunities
Technology
is making learning opportunities more accessible and flexible. Individuals with
disabilities can make use of:
● Online learning platforms
● E-learning modules
● Educational apps
AI-powered
Braille tutor apps can assist disabled people to learn Braille and access
education. These apps can change Braille characters into text.
Employers
can personalize learning paths. This can help employees to find training
courses that suit their abilities and skills. They can also use AI tools to
provide feedback based on performance. This enables employees to learn from
their mistakes.
With
access to education and customized learning experiences, disabled people can
grow personally and professionally. They pursue higher education, acquire new
skills, and prepare themselves for their careers.
The picture shows a woman sitting at her desk in a wheelchair shaking a man's hand.
Remote work and
telecommuting
Advances
in technology such as video conferencing platforms and collaboration tools are
facilitating remote work and telecommunicating. This provides more work
opportunities for the disabled. It eliminates some of the physical barriers
that prevent disabled individuals from finding employment. They can use
disability tools and contribute their skills and expertise from the comfort of
their homes.
AI and Smart
Assistive Devices
Some
assistive technology is fairly low-tech, such as wheelchairs for more mobility.
Other smart technology takes full advantage of the latest advances in
artificial intelligence. These advances include:
● Optical character recognition
● Text-to-speech
● Facial recognition
● Object recognition
AI
plays a role in making hiring processes more inclusive. It can help to match
candidates with jobs that accommodate their specific needs and skills.
Microsoft’s Neurodiversity Hiring Program is an example of inclusive
technology. It empowers neurodiverse people in the interview process. They can
show their strengths and weaknesses in ways that will improve their chances of
getting hired.
When
employers integrate AI-powered chatbots into different work-related apps they
assist disabled employees with tasks. Using virtual assistants such as Alexa,
Siri, or Google Assistant help disabled employees to automate voice tasks. They
can help them to schedule and attend meetings, collaborate with others, and
answer emails like anyone else.
AI
tools such as Google’s Parrotron allow people with impaired speech to translate
it into fluent conversation. Microsoft’s Cortana helps visually impaired
individuals to navigate their devices using voice control.
A
program like Ava uses AI to transcribe group conversations for those with
hearing impairments. The transcriptions include the sender’s name, punctuation,
and words from the user’s dictionary.
Virtual reality
(VR)
Virtual
reality is helping individuals to return to the workplace after an injury or a
stroke. It is equipping them with the social competency skills they need for a
successful job interview by giving them an immersive experience that simulates
a real job interview.
A
disabled person who is able to do work tasks but is isolated and doesn’t have
the opportunity to engage can feel a lack of job satisfaction and perform
poorly. This is where virtual reality can make a difference. Businesses can use virtual reality (VR) to
simulate disabilities. This can allow other employees to experience first-hand what
it is like to live with a disability. Simulations like this can help to raise
awareness and increase understanding and empathy towards people with
disabilities. VR technology helping people in this way can transform a company
culture to support disability inclusion efforts.
Conclusion
People
with disabilities should have the potential to be as independent as they can be
and succeed at their professional goals. New technology for disabled people
means they can access digital platforms. They can also learn using online
resources, remote work opportunities, and much more. They are starting to
join the workforce and make a contribution more than ever before. Technology
breaks down barriers and builds more inclusive environments. This ensures
everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive.