Written by Elizabeth Crumb, In-house Accessibility Lead, Peckham
During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, I am continually reminded and astounded by the ways in which technology has shaped access and employment. If someone had told me 20 years ago that one day, I would be able to power and operate a wheelchair with a watch, I would have dismissed them as some futuristic science fiction lover with an impressive imagination. But here we are in 2023, and assistive technology is not something that only exists but is something that I and others use in our daily lives. Assistive technology includes a wide catalog of devices, equipment, and applications individuals with disabilities use to achieve greater independence in their home, community, and work.
At Peckham, a non-profit vocational rehabilitation agency that hires individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment, we utilize technological advancements daily. With assistive technology becoming more mainstream, we have found creative solutions already built into the applications we employ every day – such as Live Captions in MS Teams and accessibility tools in Microsoft to make documents and emails compatible with screen-reading software.
As an organization, we prioritize listening to those we serve and empowering each individual to be an accessibility expert. We lean on those individuals experiencing barriers to educate us on what they need to enable success and inform us of areas for improvement. This practice of “fitting the job to the person and not the person to the job” has inspired many creative solutions and possibilities in work.
Take the example of April Thurston, an agent in one of our federal contact centers who is also blind. Using screen-reading software, April can hear information displayed on the screen and perform her duties as successfully as any other agent without a visual impairment. After years of doors being closed because of her disability, April has found great success at Peckham, with technology playing a key role. (See April in Action Here)
While technology has its place, employers need not overwhelm themselves with technological solutions for greater accessibility. Sometimes, it is a very small difference that can render something inaccessible. My position at Peckham requires occasional travel, which can be a harrowing experience, especially when it comes to hotels. Hotel beds are notorious for being inaccessible; often, they are high and make it a challenge to transfer from a wheelchair. During one of my most recent travels, the bed was about 2 inches too high—a height that most others would dismiss—but that small height difference made all the difference for me.
Look around your environment—is that trashcan by the bathroom door potentially blocking someone who uses a wheelchair or scooter from operating a door? Could the potted plant with trailing vines be a potential trip hazard for someone who is blind or has low vision? These seemingly innocuous items can make or break whether your environment is open, inclusive, and accessible.
While technological advancements have been astounding, it’s important to note that individual autonomy must be respected. When talking about disability, accommodations, or technology, be mindful of someone else’s lived experience. Disability is a highly individualized experience; talk to the person who has the disability; they are the experts on what they need, what works, and what will not.
As we celebrate the value that workers with disabilities add to our workforce, I encourage employers to be curious enough to ask questions, humble enough to listen to what each individual needs to be successful in work, and open enough to see a disability as an opportunity and not a barrier.