Persons with disabilities have a right to find jobs that they enjoy just like everyone else. There might be some challenges involved in making this happen, so you might be looking for ways to address and overcome these challenges. Depending on what you need to accomplish, there are quite a few technological aids that you could find helpful.
Useful Apps
There are a number of mobile apps that can help persons with disabilities who are looking for job opportunities or are looking to navigate their workplaces more easily. Some of these apps can help you if you are visually or hearing impaired. There are even apps that can help you if you aren’t verbal at all.
Most recently, Rolling Without Limits discussed an app that’s being released worldwide that would help persons with disabilities with job hunting. You can also use apps from staffing agencies to find work. Many companies are hiring freelancers through these job platforms whether you’re looking for work in web development, IT, graphic design, writing, or legal work. You can also connect with many companies seeking talent by joining the New Tech Northwest virtual community.
If you’re going to use any of these apps, make sure you have a phone that can handle the pressure. A reliable smartphone will also be imperative to maintaining contact with your clients and employers. It’s also crucial that you hack-proof your phone by adding a password lock on your phone, downloading necessary security updates, and avoiding storing sensitive information.
Physical Tools
Apart from applications, persons with disabilities can also benefit from using what is known as an assistive technology device. According to SHRM, these devices can include computer screen readers for the visually impaired that can also provide a document in Braille. For the hearing impaired, there are also modern hearing aids that can connect wirelessly to a smartphone so conversations can be easier.
Computer-Based Aids
In the past few years, more and more software companies have made improvements to their products that allow people with disabilities to use them. In many cases, you might find that you’ll be able to manipulate design software products like AutoCAD and certain graphic design products with limited mobility. In fact, some of them can be accessed using head and eye-tracking technology like a head mouse. According to Special Needs Computers, persons with limited mobility can get more work done if they’re using computers and other devices that are enabled to use sip/puff technology. This can be used within a workplace environment as well as at home.
Advancement Assistance
If you’re in a career that has room for promotion, then the right technology can help you to cope with your new responsibilities. It might not be available for everyone yet, but driverless vehicles will make quite the difference for persons with disabilities. In the meantime, you can look for cars that have been modified to suit your needs. Your smartphone can also come into play here as the artificial intelligence which can act as your very own virtual assistant. For jobs with more advanced requirements or if you’re running your own business, you might want to look into contacting an actual person. Using technology to interact with a virtual assistant can be ideal for someone with disabilities as you can outsource jobs more easily.
Whether you’re working for someone else or running your own show, technological aids can play an important part in your career. They can help you get a job, maintain it and even access promotions. The beauty of technology is that it’s always evolving, so just because your ideal aid doesn’t exist now, it doesn’t mean someone isn’t working on it!
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