As the title suggests this can actually mean a lot to a lot of people and it’s strange that it is still not on the main agenda. Even in countries with long tradition in anti-discrimination legislation, like Norway, we still do not have accessibility requirements for workplace IT systems (!?). They are often explicitly left out of the legislation, but that will and must change, just a matter of time.
This situation actually opens and sustains a giant gap in society – we can complain when our municipality website is not accessible, we can complain when our online store is making us hurt when we need to tab hundreds of times to reach to a product we need to buy, but it does not help when we can’t do the work we are qualified for due to an inaccessible IT system in our workplace.
This means that one day we can do our job. But the next day we maybe can not anymore. Or it physically hurts us because, for example, we need to use a keyboard instead of a mouse and the internal IT system does not work with a keyboard, so instead of pressing few keys we need to move the cursor by pressing arrow keys hundreds of times.
I will not go into the politics and demographic issues we face, a lot is written on the subject, but just imagine that you are suddenly facing a situation where a temporary, situational or permanent disability cuts you out of your work just because of the IT system that does not work with accessibility in mind. You are still qualified, but system does not support your input anymore. Or does not support it enough for you to be efficient.
Let’s be realistic – even with over a decade of accessibility requirements for public and private sector in some countries, we still stumble upon problems extremely often. But there are mechanisms to at least complain and move something further. With the workplace internal IT system not being accessible it is not so easy.
People recognized this years ago and joined in different organizations that are louder and louder and demand regulations that ensure accessibility and universal design for workplace ICT systems as well. This will be one of the most important wins for us all, when legislation recognizes the potentials here.
Let’s be proactive!
We share responsibilities, once again. As an employee, employer, stakeholder, vendor,… It is high time to spread the word, do the actual work and move beyond wishing. Make things more accessible whenever you can. Prepare for times when you, your coworker or your client will maybe need tools you make to be accessible – or just learn how to make content you make for internal use (more) accessible.
Imagine the positive effects on individuals, companies, society, when people that want to work actually can do the work.
To enable people not only to spend, but also to earn money.
Internal IT systems, intranet portals, desktop, web, mobile apps, documents for internal company usage – need to be as accessible as possible. This will then enable more people to be more productive, and this will enable some people to re-join the workforce and enable them with independence. Especially when we are working longer and there is less available workforce.
Even if the legislation is far from reality, we can and must do better now, gradually all of us can improve things, it is just a matter of awareness and knowledge!
