October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), celebrating the value and talent that people with disabilities bring to the workplace as employees, managers, executives, and business owners. For many people with disabilities, assistive technology (AT) is essential for their jobs, from the mobility devices and transportation options that get them to the workplace to the apps and devices they use to work on a computer, operate machinery, communicate with co-workers and customers, and complete the essential tasks of their jobs.

NIDILRR grantees conduct research and development to understand and address the AT needs of workers with disabilities, including in emerging technology. Here are a few currently working in this space:

• Enhancing Driving Capacity with Assistive and Rehabilitation Technologies aims to advance technology-enabled interventions that can help older drivers with low vision. The project conducts research on AT and rehabilitation technology interventions for improving visuomotor function related to driving, the most common mode of transportation among older workers aging with and into disabilities.
• Participatory Assistive, Integrative, and Responsible Technology (PAIR-Tech) aims to cultivate novel approaches of using Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) to increase accessibility of information and communication technology for people with disabilities–while also addressing risks such as bias, security, and privacy. The project activities include developing guidelines to mitigate GAI bias in hiring and tutorials and training opportunities for people with disabilities to learn about and use open-source AT, among other activities
• Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technology for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing aims to address the accessibility and usability of technology for people who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH), focusing on the critical needs and opportunities in the emerging areas of immersive technologies and artificial intelligence (AI). The center builds access into emerging extended reality technology, investigates and evaluates next generation assistive listening technologies, and creates AI-based voice generation tools designed for DHH users, among other activities.
• Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Accommodations, Employment Supports, and Success for People with Physical Disabilities (ACCESS-PD) aims to improve workplace accommodation practices so that people with physical disabilities get the employment supports and accommodations that they need to be successful. This center explores the impact of accommodations on employment outcomes for both traditional workers and contingent or gig workers, studies how durable medical equipment coverage policies impact employment outcomes, and tests tools to assist vocational rehabilitation providers choose accommodations and evaluate AT mastery, among other activities.

NIDILRR-funded projects and centers develop and test many types of AT solutions and interventions. Here are a few resources that may be helpful to employees, employers, and employment professionals:

• An Overview of Assistive Technology for People Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision is a course for employment professionals providing an overview of the types and uses of AT devices and software for individuals who are blind or have low vision as well as resources for staying current with these AT.
• AT in the Workplace (PDF) is a report of a five-year study of how people who are blind or have low vision use AT in the workplace, which technologies they use, challenges they face, and how AT use has changed over time.
• Work ACCESS is an easy-to-use workplace accommodation assessment system that helps employers and employees make more informed accommodation decisions. You can help beta test the system!
• Working Hands-Free: Using Voice Control for Computer Access is a webinar demonstrating the latest voice control technology and how it can benefit people with physical disabilities in the workplace.

In addition to these, you may want to explore the initiatives and resources available from the Office of Disability Employment Policy, supporting workers and emerging workers with disabilities, employers, employment professionals, and policy makers.

NARIC’s information specialists can also help you find information and resources to explore AT solutions for work. Contact us by email, chat, phone, or virtual office visit!