Working from home has steadily increased in recent years — a trend that has been reinforced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Working from home offers numerous benefits and is often even necessary for many people with disabilities. Unfortunately, companies that primarily rely on face-to-face work often reject requests for home office jobs. According to a Bloomberg Law study, around 70% of requests from people with disabilities for home office jobs have been rejected since 2021.
But it doesn't have to stay that way. With the right help tools and communication methods, remote work is possible for people with disabilities in most companies. This article highlights the barriers that many people with disabilities face in the digital work environment and offers solutions on how remote work can be improved for people with different abilities.
COVID-19 and the rise of remote work
The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed traditional working environments, and remote work has now become a dominant way of working. Studies show that the incidence of working from home is five times higher than before the pandemic, and some impressive statistics underline this development:
35% of jobs can be carried out remotely.
More than 93% of companies will continue to conduct virtual interviews.
16% of companies are completely remote.
57% of employees would quit their jobs if working from home was not allowed.
35% of employees feel more productive working remotely.
65% would like a 100% remote position
Over 70% of employees say that working remotely makes their lives more balanced.
Remote work is particularly beneficial for people with disabilities, as they often have to overcome barriers in traditional work environments. Unfortunately, this opportunity is not always available to everyone, which often determines the professional participation of these people.
Who needs digital accessibility to work from home?
People with different disabilities need different adaptations for remote work. Here are a few examples of how specific disabilities can impact access to digital jobs:
Hearing disabilities and deafness: The absence of background noise when working from home can benefit people with hearing disabilities and make work easier.
visual impairment and blindness: A quieter home environment, where technologies such as screen readers or text-to-speech solutions can be used, makes work more accessible for these people.
neurodiversity: These employees often need fewer distractions and a structured work environment, which makes working from home easier.
Mental Health and Chronic Illness: People with mental illnesses or chronic illnesses often need more flexible working hours and locations.
Physical disabilities: Employees with physical disabilities can make better use of the required adaptive tools when working from home and thus work more effectively.
Tips for barrier-free digital communication
Create barrier-free documents
All documents should be designed to be easy for people with disabilities to read and edit. This is particularly important for people who are blind or have a visual impairment, as well as for people with dyslexia who use screen readers or Braille assistive technologies.
Provide barrier-free virtual presentations
By using real-time transcription, pre-sending accessible materials, and providing recordings in a timely manner, full participation in virtual presentations is made easier.
Write barrier-free emails
Text-based emails are more accessible to screen readers than graphically complex emails that require complex coding and responsive design.
Use accessible hyperlinks
Use descriptive link texts such as “View summer offers now” instead of generic phrases such as “click here.”
Deliver barrier-free video content
Avoid flickering lights and always provide text descriptions, transcripts, and accessible audio elements to make video content accessible to everyone.
Many of the common tools we use today already offer supporting features, such as Google Meet, which offers live subtitling, screen readers, and keyboard accessibility. Auch Grammarly offers features such as a tonality detector, which can be particularly helpful in written communication in remote work environments.
Working from home — a win-win situation for everyone
Astonishingly, 80% of working adults with disabilities are often unemployed due to inaccessible jobs, despite legal requirements such as the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). However, studies show that companies that prioritize the inclusion of people with disabilities generate 28% more revenue and 30% higher profit margins than companies that don't. Employees with disabilities also stay with the company longer, which reduces employee turnover.
With the latest assistive technologies, companies can attract and retain skilled remote workers with disabilities. In addition, targeted job acquisition initiatives can help fill more jobs for people with different abilities. It just takes the right combination of training, policy, technology, and ideology to make remote work accessible to everyone.
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest problem with accessibility in the work environment?
The lack of opportunities is the biggest problem for people with disabilities. They are often offered only low-paid jobs without sufficient continuing education opportunities and career potential.
Who benefits from digital accessibility?
Digital accessibility is critical as it ensures that everyone, including people with disabilities, can access and use digital content. It promotes inclusion and diversity in providing important information and services.
How can we remove barriers for people with disabilities in the workplace?
Make physical and digital accessibility a priority:
Allow people with disabilities to work remotely or work on a lower floor
Design the hiring process in such a way that it facilitates communication during the application process.
Install ramps for wheelchair access.
Make sure everyone has a suitable place to work.
Implementing these simple measures not only helps to break down barriers, but also makes for a more diverse and productive work environment.
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