HP Innovation Issue 22: Fall 2022 | Page 70

68 WO RLD-CHANGING IDEAS >>
THE IMPACT OF remote work is undeniable : Zoom and Microsoft Teams have become de facto conference rooms , employees have traded business suits for loungewear , and commuting time has shrunk to the few minutes it takes to boot up . But while the media has portrayed adapting to remote work as a new phenomenon , many people with disabilities — myself included — have understood and advocated for it for years .
I was born three months premature , and as such , have multiple disabilities , including cerebral palsy and low vision . In my past career as a special education preschool teacher , I would be tired even before clocking in . Getting to the bus stop , waiting , and then walking were as much a job as my actual job . My cerebral palsy causes me to tire quickly , and the commute robbed me of the precious energy I knew was needed to wrangle young children all day .
Since 2013 , I ’ ve been working from home as a freelance journalist . Not having to commute , and being able to dictate my own terms , have enabled me to be extremely productive , while accessible-tech features like increased text size make it easier for me to read , type , and see things like menu bars on-screen .
James Rath benefits them in countless other ways . Half of companies already or will soon require full-time , in-person work in the coming year , but research from the Society for Human Resource Management shows that 63 % of workers think being required to work in an office doesn ’ t make sense when work can be done remotely .
“ Companies across all industries need to be more attuned to their employees ’ needs and desires and adjust accordingly ,” says Rath . This is especially crucial for people with disabilities , including disabilities that may not be visible to their coworkers .
Beyond providing the flexibility that so many people enjoy , for me and others with disabilities remote work is itself a form of accessibility , with benefits for employers as well . In 2021 , nearly 6 million people with a disability were employed in the United States — about 19 % of the total population of people with disabilities . That ’ s three times lower than the employment rate for people without disabilities . A recent report from the Center for American Progress found that closing that gap could bring more than 14 million more people with disabilities into the workforce .
“ The ability to work from home allows us to create a more-inclusive environment ,” says Mike Nash , Chief Customer Experience Officer at HP and executive sponsor of HP ’ s Global disAbilities Business Impact Networks for employees . “ It gives us access to talent and IQ that we might otherwise not have .”
Allowing employees more control An important factor in making work accessible for all employees is thinking beyond physical or technical accommodations . Employers must also prioritize “ attitudinal accommodations ”— understanding that remote work is one way to address specific needs and help some employees do their best work , Nash explains .
HP offers a remote or hybrid work option for many employees , as well as accommodations to address workplace challenges if required . The company has also enhanced accessibility on many of its products . Among the options for its multifunction printers , for example , are a larger display , voice command and screen-reading capabilities , and built-in screen zoom and “ invert colors ” features , which help people with low vision .
“ It ’ s part of our culture of inclusion ,” Nash says . “ We strive to use the right set of technologies and physical accommodations to make sure that a barrier to someone being able to do their work is reduced , if not eliminated .”
Janeen Baynes-Feinberg , Senior Employment Counsel at HP , has been working remotely since she