How technology removes work barriers for people with disabilities

When Craig Warren graduated from college, he wanted to be a music therapist to help people with the healing power of music. He received a job at a large mental health institution, where he led music, recreation and art and made notes after every interaction.

Born visually damaged, Warren uses a computer and phone with a screen reader and a display of Braille. One day the hospital switched its electronic medical records to a program that was incompatible with its screen reader. That’s right, he was out of work.

Cases such as Warren are not isolatedS Disabled people who just enter the workforce barriers This may seem overwhelming. Although in 2023 there was a record high share of people with disabilities in employment, the percentage of their participation in the work was 24%, or less than one -third of 78% for people without disabilities.

The new technology-and its quick acceptance for remote work during the Covid-19-continues to destroy many barriers for people with disabilities. There are more ways than ever to work to ensure accessibility, often with almost no cost. For example, voice recognition extends communication opportunities for those who face challenges with traditional keyboards. And automatic inscription ensures that people who are deaf or experience hearing loss can fully engage in multimedia content.

However, better planning and training need to ensure that employers take advantage of this newly respected set of workers.

Ability Central, a foundation for which I work, has provided $ 15 million to non -profit organizations in California that focus on communication disabilities and turn the skills and development of leadership major focus.

One of the organization’s investment highlights is a Wrongness Program from the Center for Independent Life in Berkli. It provides paid internships and the development of leadership to prepare students with disabilities for meaningful roles for employment and leadership.

This year, the focus will be the training of people with disabilities to work in the field of emergency preparation. Last Fires in LA Hey, where some residents with disabilities burned to deathThey showed the tragic consequences when people with disabilities are not fully involved in disaster response planning.

Another promising career development program is MYCHAL’s training place In Hawthorne. It provides support, workplace training and public dressing for work young people with disabilities in development. Not only does Mychal provide jobs for people who are often unemployed, but it encourages the creation of new businesses that benefit from their skills.

A third promise program for young people with disabilities is Criptech Incubator Laboratory from Leonardo in Oakland. It helps disabled artists develop food and AI technology skills so that they can join the next generation of technological innovators by bringing their unique prospects for solving problems and creating technologies that can benefit from all.

Read more: Can California find a better pay for jobs for people with disabilities?

These programs enable people with disabilities to gain access to the tools and knowledge needed to become successful workers in today’s labor market. Meaningful employment not only increases financial independence, but also deepens social inclusion.

By investing in auxiliary technology, an affordable design and Workforce development programsWe can guarantee that workers with disabilities are part of a more communicative future.

Craig Warren now works at Ability Central as an administrator of Salesforce. Salesforce software accessibility functions and our inclusive workplace practices mean that Warren can play a high -tech role on an equal basis for his colleagues.

According to him, “My hope is that I can make the world online more accessible, an inclusive place. I hope I can spread the message that accessibility is important. “

The financial support for this story was provided by the SMIDT Foundation and the James Irvin Foundation.