DiversityInc - October 2006

organization talk about how they’re the only women at meetings.

“That’s exclusionary just by the makeup,” she says. “When the culture is so dominated by one gender or race, there’s no one for a woman or minority to look up to, and it’s sometimes difficult just to get a point across.”

In order to recruit and retain people of all genders, ages, races, abilities and sexual orientations, a corporate culture that values their contributions must be created. “One Asian woman in IT said to me: ‘The job is the same whether I work for IBM, GE or any other major corporation. I want to work for the company that cares for me,’ ” explains Taborn. “If a company can show employees that it’s interested in supporting programs [and products] that are important to them, that builds retention.”

What technology tools does your company need to keep its top talent? Consider the aging U.S. work force. Since more than

50 percent of the labor pool will be age 40 or older by 2010, research group Forrester predicts a convergence between aging workers and the need for assistive technology. These employees include not only computer programmers, but also financial analysts using spread-sheets, commercial airline pilots who download flight manuals and automotive assembly-line workers

who track data from the factory floor. As they age, they may experience mild to severe vision, hearing, dexterity, speech and cognitive difficulties that could be addressed with assistive technology.

Closing the digital divide in the workplace requires a commitment, dedicated leadership and management compensation that’s tied to diversity. According to Telle

Cell Phone Ownership by Demographic Group
(by Household)

100%

80

83

77

76

75

70

64

60

40

20

0

Teens

All Adults
(+ 18)

Women Blacks Seniors Latinos

Source: Consumer Electronics Association

Leaders in Accessibility, Leaders in Diversity

Does your organization have the right competitive edge to serve people with disabilities and the aging population? Clear corporate strategies along with accessible and assistive technologies are key components to meet the needs of these important populations.

With 78 million baby boomers, 54 million people with disabilities and a growing shortage of employees, businesses have incentives to provide accessible systems to keep valued employees working longer and to reach new customers in this important and growing market.

That’s why the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) is holding a special two-day Leadership Forum on Accessibility in Orlando this January as part of its annual international conference on assistive technology.

“Too often, the focus in the past has been on compliance and not the business value as it relates to access for diverse populations,” says David M. Dikter, ATIA’s executive director. “This conference is designed to show corporate leaders and their accessibility teams that there’s a business case to be made for providing accessible technology that goes beyond compliance.”

The forum will be a unique opportunity for educational sessions and networking opportunities specifically design-

ed for the enterprise environment. It is tailored for directors of accessibility within corporations as well as members from marketing, IT, human resources and quality assurance and usability, who might have responsibility for accessibility strategies and accommodation.

Sessions will demonstrate the business case for accessibility and its associated technologies. The forum also will feature case studies from a corporate perspective. These case studies will illustrate how a variety of companies have employed a team approach to develop a strategy for providing assistive technology to their employees and their customers.

The ATIA Leadership Forum on Accessibility will be held in Orlando, Fla., January 25 to 26. For more information, visit the association’s Web site: www.atia.org/leadershipforum.

The mission of ATIA is to serve as the collective voice of the Assistive Technology industry, so that the best products and services are delivered to people with disabilities. ATIA represents the interests of its members to business, government, education and the many agencies that serve people with disabilities.