How to Make Your Workplace Accessible for the Blind and Visually Impaired
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How to make your workplace accessible for the blind and visually impaired
Accessibility in the workplace may seem intimidating but there are so many ways an employer can make the workplace accessible for the blind and visually impaired. With a focus on diversity and inclusion in the workplace, accessibility for those with disabilities cannot be ignored. Hiring those with disabilities can also provide tremendous benefits for your company. 70% of working-age adults who are blind or visually impaired are unemployed, meaning there is a huge talent pool you may not even be considering! Those with disabilities also provide unique and diverse perspectives, are problem-solvers, and great assets to any company.
But as an employer, you might not know where to start or how to help your employees who need accommodations. And you might think they will be expensive, but that is incorrect. Over 50% of accommodations cost next to nothing and most cost less than $500, according to the Job Accommodation Network.
Offer Support
If an employee brings up that they have a disability (which they are not required to when they apply!), be supportive. Make sure to ask if there is anything you can do to help accommodate them, and if they have ideas, listen!
Work from Home Option / Flexible Scheduling
For employees who are not blind and visually impaired, they can simply get in a car and drive to work. This is not the case for the blind and visually impaired community! Allowing for a more flexible schedule or even working from home will give employees the benefit of not struggling through a commute or worrying they will be a few minutes late because of a late bus or paratransit. Again, be understanding and supportive about public transit running late.
Make Social Media and Website accessible
Making your website and social media accessible is so important to show your employees that you care about accessibility all around, not just as a one-off occurrence because of them. You’ll also be helping people who do not work at your company by providing an accessible website and social media.
Offer documents in digital formats & accessible PDFs
Forms can easily be made fillable with programs like InDesign and Adobe Acrobat. When making fillable PDFs, make sure to add tags so that they are read when screen readers access the form. For more tips and tricks, visit this webpage on how to make accessible documents using Acrobat.
Don’t make assumptions
This goes back to our first point but do not make assumptions about your employees and what they can do. This is especially important in the interview phase. The Blind and visually impaired community is able to do almost any task, as long as it doesn’t include driving! Simply ask and make sure they have the tools they need to succeed.
If you are blind or visually impaired, check out the Job Accommodations Network
If you need help with accommodations at the workplace, be sure to check out the Job Accommodations Network. JAN can give you some great resources and ideas if you are struggling at work.