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<span style="font-size:25.5pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">Blind People Stagnating At Work Due To Inaccessible Technology, Says New Study<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:18.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.forbes.com/sites/gusalexiou/__;!!Db6frn15oIvDD3UI!zcwtRgw4KRygwGpkTNeRuyOkF9zwlgtaY26Mem0GlHD1sKcXgUveSnmSA6T9ioBILCw$" target="_top"><span style="color:#416ED2">Gus
Alexiou</span></a>07:00am EST<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:18.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.forbes.com/diversity-equity-inclusion__;!!Db6frn15oIvDD3UI!zcwtRgw4KRygwGpkTNeRuyOkF9zwlgtaY26Mem0GlHD1sKcXgUveSnmSA6T9z0t6Bdo$" target="_top"><span style="color:#416ED2">Diversity,
Equity & Inclusion</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">I write about accessibility, inclusion and social justice.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">Visually impaired professional with associate, [+] getty
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">Bringing “<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_bring_your_whole_self_to_work__;!!Db6frn15oIvDD3UI!zcwtRgw4KRygwGpkTNeRuyOkF9zwlgtaY26Mem0GlHD1sKcXgUveSnmSA6T9TMqxZ78$" target="_blank" title="https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_bring_your_whole_self_to_work"><span style="color:#416ED2">your
whole self to Work</span></a>” has been an important mantra within diversity circles over the past few years.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">However, according to a
<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.afb.org/research-and-initiatives/workplace-tech-study__;!!Db6frn15oIvDD3UI!zcwtRgw4KRygwGpkTNeRuyOkF9zwlgtaY26Mem0GlHD1sKcXgUveSnmSA6T9ssEekgE$" target="_blank" title="https://www.afb.org/research-and-initiatives/workplace-tech-study">
<span style="color:#416ED2">new study</span></a> carried out by the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), employees with sight loss continue to be hampered in in carrying out the bare essentials of their jobs by their employer’s lack of knowledge and commitment
to digital accessibility.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">For those who possess a limited awareness of the topic – digital accessibility is, more often than not, purely framed through the narrow prism
of a lack of access to outward <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.forbes.com/sites/gusalexiou/2021/12/19/retailers-to-lose-828-million-of-sales-over-christmas-due-to-inaccessible-websites__;!!Db6frn15oIvDD3UI!zcwtRgw4KRygwGpkTNeRuyOkF9zwlgtaY26Mem0GlHD1sKcXgUveSnmSA6T9Wc2GY-s$" target="_top" title="https://www.forbes.com/sites/gusalexiou/2021/12/19/retailers-to-lose-828-million-of-sales-over-christmas-due-to-inaccessible-websites">
<span style="color:#416ED2">consumer-facing websites</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">To date, insufficient attention has been paid to the work activity-related access barriers experienced by employees who are already working full-time
and the effect these can have on career progression.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">AFB’s research published last month is entitled the “<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.afb.org/research-and-initiatives/workplace-tech-study/executive-summary__;!!Db6frn15oIvDD3UI!zcwtRgw4KRygwGpkTNeRuyOkF9zwlgtaY26Mem0GlHD1sKcXgUveSnmSA6T9ZJI9TXY$" target="_blank" title="https://www.afb.org/research-and-initiatives/workplace-tech-study/executive-summary"><span style="color:#416ED2">Workplace
Technology Study</span></a> “and drew data from 323 participants with vision impairments in employment in February 2021 with 25 of the participants undergoing depth interviews.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">The areas being surveyed and under discussion comprised the use of technology for hiring and onboarding, day-to-day productivity and training
and interactions with IT staff and managers, including requests for technology-related workplace accommodations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">The study received funding from the likes of Google, Microsoft and JP Morgan Chase amongst others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2 style="mso-line-height-alt:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><strong><span style="font-size:18.5pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">Significant challenges</span></strong><span style="font-size:18.5pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">Amongst the headline statistics was the fact that 59% of participants reported facing accessibility challenges when completing onboarding forms
on paper while 48% reported challenges with electronic onboarding forms.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">A further 25% of participants said that they could not fully access training modules required for their jobs. This impacted their productivity
and sense of inclusion in the workplace.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">Amongst those who were self-employed, 17.8% reported being passed up for a contract or having their contract terminated due to being unable to
use inaccessible software such as screen sharing, PDF documents or proprietary databases.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">Shockingly, particularly given the fact that workplace accommodations are enshrined in law under the
<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/beta.ada.gov/__;!!Db6frn15oIvDD3UI!zcwtRgw4KRygwGpkTNeRuyOkF9zwlgtaY26Mem0GlHD1sKcXgUveSnmSA6T96eQD5ug$" target="_blank" title="https://beta.ada.gov/">
<span style="color:#416ED2">Americans with Disabilities Act</span></a> (ADA), the study included one account from an employee who was fired by his CEO for taking out his own magnifier during a client meeting because the CEO did not want the client to know that
the employee had an issue with his sight.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">Commenting on the research, Stephanie Enyart AFB’s Chief Public Policy And Research Officer said, “The findings in the Workplace Technology Study
show us that many technology barriers still exist for workers with a visual impairment, despite non-discrimination laws and guidance.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">“It is our hope that this study will provide a basis for understanding where many current workplace practices and protocols have not met their
intended marks. The study can serve as a basis for identifying and addressing gaps to create a more fully inclusive workplace.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2 style="mso-line-height-alt:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><strong><span style="font-size:18.5pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">Workplace essentials</span></strong><span style="font-size:18.5pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">One hitherto underreported area that the study touches on is a lack of basic document accessibility for both onboarding and routine work tasks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">As one participant explained, “When I cannot read materials [at work trainings], I can't participate. Sometimes people assume I can't participate
because I'm blind, when the real issue is that the materials either were not provided or aren't accessible. All of this hinders my career advancement and my ability to learn new skills and technologies.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">“This causes stress and frustration. I feel like I'm behind in my work and that I can't measure up due to a lack of information. I know I've done
my best and this isn't my fault, and I have had to ask supervisors and other officials to address the issues several times.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">It is a scenario Adam Spencer, CEO of AbleDocs, a global organization specializing in document accessibility and remediation is all too familiar
with.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">"When it comes to accessibility, almost all organizations start with their website first when they're tackling digital accessibility,” says Spencer.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">“They feel that documents are an afterthought but the reality is that documents touch far more employees, and indeed clients, in a personal way
than any website ever will.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">He continues, “I can’t tell you the number of organizations actually specializing in the disability space who put out reports like ‘The State
of the Union on Accessibility’ and they’ve not bothered to check whether the PDF is accessible.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">“I always ask them – ‘How come you’re not walking your talk?’ The level of ignorance that takes is beyond anything I could imagine. It's just
ridiculous.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">Another important area the report went on to highlight was the fear some employees with sight loss have around requesting accommodations, despite
the protection of the ADA.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">According to one respondent, an Asian American female in her twenties, “When asking for accommodations, my supervisor says that I cannot have
special treatment over other co-workers even though they are accommodations. She considers what others would think if I received accommodations.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">On the plus side, many participants noted the benefits of a shift to remote working during the Covid-19 pandemic, stating that it created more
of a level playing field.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">Amongst the report’s recommendations for a more equitable experience for visually impaired workers is for organizations to adopt a more joined-up
approach to workplace accessibility with HR and IT departments working far more closely together on the issue.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">Corporations should also be encouraged to be more overt and take positive action on their commitment to workplace accessibility by publishing
and implementing both an accessibility policy and accommodations policy for current and future employees on their website.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">While such measures are likely to be useful first steps, the proof of the pudding will always be in the eating and there might just be some important
undetakings software developers can perform early on to prevent some of the issues outlined above arising in the first place.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">“Every computer science, IT studies student etc., should have their screen and mouse taken away for a week and have to use screen-reading or other
adaptive software so that accessibility is taken seriously,” exhorted one study participant.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:18.0pt;max-width:100%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"-apple-system-font",serif">That's the kind of visionary thinking needed to ensure that the maximum number of stakeholders in workplace disability inclusion, no matter what
their level of sight, get to see the full picture.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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