The Use of Information Technology to Create a Better Workplace for Individuals with Disabilities

Adler, Rachel, Friedman, L.W., Friedman, H. H. (2008). The use on information technology to create a better workplace for individuals with disabilities. Management Online Review, August, 1-11.

11 Pages Posted: 13 Jan 2014

See all articles by Rachel Adler

Rachel Adler

Northeastern Illinois University

Linda Weiser Friedman

Baruch College, CUNY - Zicklin School of Business; CUNY - The Graduate Center

Hershey H. Friedman

Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Date Written: August 11, 2008

Abstract

The disabilities market consists of 750,000,000 people worldwide and is growing rapidly. About 20% of the population of the Unites States is disabled; 25% of the population of the European Union is disabled. Moreover, every demographer is predicting that there will be huge labor shortages in many countries in the near future. It is crucial for firms to find ways to hire more disabled employees since, for one thing, they can be the engine for generating and developing new product ideas for this important group. The diversity we seek to achieve in the workplace includes not only gender and ethnic background, but disability as well. Computer and information technology has made it increasingly easy for disabled people to join the workforce. This paper describes how computer technology can play a role in accomplishing this goal. It examines new and existing technology that can be used to accommodate individuals with particular disabilities, specifically, visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech impairment, learning disabilities, autism, mobility impairment, the elderly, and those with mental health problems. In many cases, promising examples of possible future assistive technology are presented.

Keywords: Disabilities, Hiring the disabled, Information technology, Robots, Computer technology in assistive devices

JEL Classification: A13, B11, D63, J7, J78, K00, K40, M5, M14, N00, N01

Suggested Citation

Adler, Rachel and Friedman, Linda Weiser and Friedman, Hershey H., The Use of Information Technology to Create a Better Workplace for Individuals with Disabilities (August 11, 2008). Adler, Rachel, Friedman, L.W., Friedman, H. H. (2008). The use on information technology to create a better workplace for individuals with disabilities. Management Online Review, August, 1-11. , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2377837

Rachel Adler

Northeastern Illinois University ( email )

Linda Weiser Friedman

Baruch College, CUNY - Zicklin School of Business ( email )

17 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10010
United States

HOME PAGE: http://cisnet.baruch.cuny.edu/friedman/

CUNY - The Graduate Center

365 Fifth Avenue
New York,, NY 10016
United States

Hershey H. Friedman (Contact Author)

Brooklyn College of the City University of New York ( email )

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