Let’s face it, accessibility in the workplace is something that doesn’t cross our minds very often because the majority of our workers are able-bodied. However, you can’t omit the possibility of hiring a professional to your team that has a disability. There are millions of people around the world who are registered as disabled and have some conditions that prevent them from doing things that others take for granted.
Something as straightforward as walking up a flight of stairs is difficult for someone in a wheelchair and you’re expected to make adjustments to accommodate disabled employees. For example, some easy ways of improving accessibility in your workplace are to widen doorways to allow for wheelchair access and using ramps instead of steps to access different areas.
Expertise Isn’t Limited to Your Body
Just because someone has a physical disability, it doesn’t mean they are less able to complete a job than an able-bodied employee. Sure, they probably won’t be doing physical jobs, but their experience and expertise on a subject can be invaluable to your business, and you should never ignore the fact that your perfect employee could be someone with a disability. To help accommodate these individuals, here are some tips to get your workplace up to scratch with accessibility.
Overcoming Stairs
Stairs are a problem for people with disabilities that impair their mobility. Services from Terry Lifts and other reputable names could be what you need to improve mobility around your office. Not only will disabled employees appreciate having a simple way to get up and down several floors, your other employees will also enjoy being able to avoid stairs if they are feeling ill or have suffered a temporary accident.
For smaller flights of stairs, cut them in half or remove the steps altogether and install a ramp for wheelchair access. Remove any small bumps and steps that are around your office as well. Not only does it make it easier for a wheelchair user to navigate your office, but it will also prevent accidents for your other employees in the event they trip over—they can be considered health hazards.
Working Away From the Office
With the ease and accessibility of cloud services and the internet, it’s possible for employees to work no matter where they are. If you have an employee that’s suffered an accident or a disabled employee who’s experiencing troubles getting to work, it’s worth the time and money to invest in a mobile solution where they can work from home.
20 Reasons to Let Your Employees Work From Home
A laptop is a great piece of tech that your employees can utilise to work from home. A tablet device also works, but they’ll most likely need a keyboard and mouse attachment to be as productive as they are in the office. Smartphones are also a good way to keep in touch with messages if they don’t have one, but even if they do a dedicated work phone is a good way to stay in touch with employees who are working from home.