As a disability advocate, I am often asked about the
workplace and reasonable accommodations. As an IT manager at Wells
Fargo for more than 29 years, I was frequently asked about assistive
technology and what people with disabilities need. I found both
conversations somewhat amusing and confusing.
In the 1980s, I was the architect responsible for designing the first 7
by 24 banking system in the U.S. My last assignment at the Bank was to
manage the design and implementation of mobile banking. I love IT!
Especially software. Software proves that there is always a way to
accomplish what you want to achieve. At the Bank, I often drove my
development staff crazy. I would insist that any feature the user wanted
to put into our application, there was always a way to do so, and
indeed there was. I must admit, I live my life as a person with a
disability in a similar fashion. Whatever I really want to do, there's
always a way!
My experience at Wells Fargo leads me to believe that corporations are
more ready for people with disabilities than we are for them. Focusing
on making a profit can be a very equalizing activity. Concentrating on
doing a great job rather than focusing on one's disability can be
liberating. At the Bank, I found that if you did a good job and added to
the Bank's bottom line, it didn't matter what color you were or what
religion you practiced or what disability you had. Focusing on the
bottom line also leads to creativity. There
were many nights when there were system problems. Support personnel
from the Bank's computer centers would call me and inevitably find a way
to understand what I was saying – because they needed to! One of my
favorite stories happened near the beginning of my career before there
was online computing, The system crashed at 1AM. My van was in the shop,
Trains in the Bay Area don’t run all night. Wells Fargo sent an armored
van to transport me, and my 300 -pound powered wheelchair to the data
center.
Assistive technology has always been an amusing concept for me. My own
disability, Cerebral Palsy, is quite significant. I cannot drink without
a straw, but are drinking straws considered assistive technology? I
also have very limited use of my hands and use a word expansion
application to help me type faster. Many people with disabilities I know
use a speech recognition system to verbally navigate their computer and
the Internet and create documents. These applications have been called
assistive technology, but when people without disabilities use them,
they are just seen as mainstream conveniences and aids to productivity.
Would anyone call Siri an assistive technology? What about
speakerphones? Gadgets and applications seem to be classified as
assistive technology only when they are used by people with
disabilities—and just until the general public realizes how universal
that gadget or app can be. When people ask me what assistive technology I
like the best, I answer it is my Wells Fargo Visa Card. It's surprising
how much easier it is for people to understand me after they see that
card!
So is it assistive technology, or a mainstream technology product that
has accessibility features? The technologies themselves have no such
categories, and the differences only seem to arise regarding who is
using them in what context. Most, if not all, developers and companies I
know, want to build accessible technologies. Who wouldn't people want
their product to be usable by as many potential customers as possible?
Universal Design is a 2-way obligation. I encourage assistive technology
designers who are designing products and services for people with
disabilities to consider how their inventions can be used by the. Not
long ago, a small hardware firm sent a designer to my house to find out
what kind of hardware might better enable me to use my smartphone or
tablet from my wheelchair. I applauded them for considering the needs of
people with disabilities. I explained how I'd really like a stand
mounted on the wheelchair that would hold the IPAD steady and that could
recharge the IPAD using solar energy. I urge them to design the stand
for bicyclists and people pushing strollers. Producing for the
general-public usually leads to a better product at a lower price.
Marketing to the general-public helps ensure that people with
disabilities are aware of the product and removes the stigma often
associated with using assistive technologies. Marketing to the general
public is also more lucrative, ensuring companies will be around to
build the next great product.
I urge all companies to follow standards set forth by agencies including Access Board Standards and Guidelines and the Web Accessibility Standards.
They are not perfect. They do not and cannot fulfill everyone's needs.
Companies must be open to meeting the needs of all staff members
including those with disabilities. People with disabilities should be
very clear about their needs and be able to explain how satisfying the
needs will enable them to be more productive.
Now
is the time to go forward. Now is the time to expect people with
disabilities to take full advantage of the progress made to date and to
be active and productive people.
Go! Go! Go!
No comments:
Post a Comment