The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and technology is reshaping nearly every aspect of our lives. From the way we communicate to how we work, these advancements hold the promise of making the world more connected, efficient, and innovative. Disability inclusion is no exception to this, especially in the workplace.

AI and technology have opened new doors for accessibility, enabling disabled people to participate more fully in the workplaces and, in some scenarios, in social environments. However, as with any powerful tool, they come with their own set of challenges. While they can drive inclusion, they can also inadvertently create new barriers if not implemented thoughtfully.

In this blog post, we’ll explore both the opportunities and challenges of using AI and technology for workplace inclusion. From success stories to cautionary tales, our goal is to provide an unbiased view of how businesses can harness the power of technology to foster inclusivity for all.

AI & Technology: The Pros

AI and technology are making significant strides in breaking down barriers for disabled people. At the same time, creating natural disability workplace inclusion that can become business as usual. Here are just a few examples:

Screen Readers and Text-to-Speech Tools

Tools like JAWS (Job Access With Speech) and NVDA (Non-Visual Desktop Access) empower visually impaired users to navigate websites, software, and documents seamlessly. These technologies translate digital text into speech or braille, enabling greater independence in the workplace.

Technologies like these are why adding alternative text on photos (for example, on a LinkedIn post) is so important. Screen readers will otherwise be unable to translate the photo into words, but in future, maybe artificial intelligence will be able to decipher a photo’s contents for this purpose too!

Voice Recognition Software

AI-powered tools like Dragon NaturallySpeaking allow individuals with mobility impairments to control computers and create documents using only their voice. This technology enhances productivity and enables employees to perform tasks they might otherwise find difficult or impossible.

The AI that is built into most technology, like Siri on iPhone or Alexa on Amazon devices, is incredibly helpful in navigating everyday tasks. Examples include sending an email or managing volume levels. These systems have grown to understand different accents, commands, and even shortcuts. These have become essential to helping disabled employees communicate and execute tasks more efficiently. Celebrating Disability’s founder, Esi, displays the following on her email signature:

Access requirements: I use Siri to type emails; sometimes, he does not hear me correctly. If you encounter grammatical errors, this may be why.

In many ways, great tech such as this is like having another team member!

Virtual Meeting Captioning Tools

Platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams now offer AI-driven live captioning, making virtual meetings more accessible for deaf and hard-of-hearing participants, as well as auditory processing disorders that can sometimes be found in neurodivergent people. These features help ensure that remote work environments are inclusive for all team members.

Although many automatic captions on video platforms like YouTube and news websites are still far from perfect, AI is becoming more sophisticated by the day at transcribing content so more people can enjoy captions on a recorded webinar or live call. More examples that naturally create disability workplace inclusion for everyone.

AI in Recruitment

Companies are beginning to use AI to make hiring processes more accessible. For example, AI-driven platforms can screen CVs or cover letters in ways that reduce unconscious bias, ensuring candidates are evaluated based on their qualifications rather than stereotypes.

Recruiters have a duty to use this technology responsibly, including making sure that the AI itself is not programmed with bias and only screens candidates based on ability and takes into consideration any reasonable adjustments. The UK government has even published a guide to AI in recruitment to steer employers in the right direction.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to assistive technology in the workplace. Click here to check out a previous blog post that covers even more types of tech.

AI & Technology: The Cons

Despite these advancements, there are challenges to using AI and technology in accessibility:

Bias in AI Models

Many AI models are trained on datasets that lack diversity, leading to biases that can exclude or disadvantage disabled people. Bias in AI developers can also create models that unconsciously have prejudice built in, even if ‘trained’ to be impartial.

Many AI systems are being trained constantly to try to reduce this kind of bias or stereotype, but unfortunately, some large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT and Claude are already live, so any issues in the system can be accessed or exploited by users.

Accessibility Gaps in Technology

While some tools are designed with accessibility in mind, many are not. For example, software platforms may lack compatibility with screen readers, or voice-activated systems may struggle to understand users with speech impairments. These issues may not be considered until after the initial rollout and are often an afterthought, leaving many users unable to use platforms without automatic captioning or screen reader compatibility.

Many sites’ stylisation may also prove difficult to access. Certain typing quirks, lack of alt text on photos, emoji spam, and unwarranted pop-ups may prevent a screen reader from doing its job properly, meaning the site is deemed inaccessible.

Inadvertent Barriers

The rapid development of AI often prioritises innovation over inclusivity. As a result, technologies are sometimes rolled out without considering how they might impact disabled users. This highlights the importance of involving disabled people in the design and testing phases of technology development.

All new technology releases have an unfortunate grace period during which any errors or bugs are ironed out. This period may mean frustration for all users, but disabled workers are unable to work at their best or at all. Whilst it is amazing that such technology exists, disabled people often rely on it to perform at the highest quality, so it is paramount that these issues are fixed before release.

Best Practices for Businesses

To truly harness the power of AI and technology for inclusion, businesses must adopt a thoughtful approach. Here are some practical steps to get started:

  1. Evaluate Accessibility from the Start

When adopting new technologies, consider accessibility a core requirement—not a ‘nice to have’—for both employees and possible customers. Ask vendors about their accessibility features and test the tools with disabled users.

  1. Engage Disabled People in Tech Design

Involve disabled employees and consultants in the design and implementation of technology. Their firsthand experience can help identify potential barriers and ensure the tools work for everyone.

  1. Invest in Training

Provide training for your teams on how to use accessible technologies effectively. Educate employees on how these tools benefit everyone, fostering a culture of inclusion.

  1. Regularly Review and Update

Accessibility is an ongoing process. Regularly assess your tools and processes to ensure they continue to meet the needs of all employees.

  1. Partner with Experts

Celebrating Disability can provide guidance on the best way to move forward. From audits to review your business’s practices to training sessions on accessibility, you can be sure to benefit from our expert advice to ensure you’re on the right track.

Conclusion

AI and technology have the potential to revolutionise workplace inclusion, but their success depends on how thoughtfully they’re implemented. By prioritising accessibility and involving disabled people in the process, businesses can unlock the full potential of these tools to create truly inclusive environments.

Are you ready to embrace the future of workplace inclusion? Celebrating Disability is here to help. Book a consultation with us today to learn how we can guide your team in adopting inclusive technologies and fostering a workplace where everyone can thrive