Promoting Accessible Technologies in the Workplace

April 2013 — The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) released the report ODEP Accomplishments 2009—2012, highlighting ODEP’s progress in ensuring that individuals with disabilities are considered and included when improving the job opportunities for American workers. Regarding the application of technology in the workplace, ODEP notes their efforts to promote accessible workplace technologies and enable all individuals with the “productivity tools they need to succeed.” ODEP developed two “Roadmap” reports for organizations to strategically incorporate accessible technologies into standard policies and practices. ODEP worked with the Department of Education and the Social Security Administration to conduct the Disability Employment App Challenge and collaborated with the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) to engage government agencies, IT developers and advocates in a discussion on the advancement of “accessible, interoperable, and usable information and communication technology.” Additionally, through ePolicyWorks, a Web-based policymaking tool that facilitates collaborative policymaking, ODEP contributed to the development of policies concerning accessible workplace technologies.