The&nbsp;Assistive Technology Act of 2004&nbsp;defines assistive technology (AT) as &ldquo;any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.&rdquo; Ultimately, AT can bridge the gaps between people&rsquo;s abilities and their job requirements.
Assistive technology can take on many forms, including low-tech devices such as canes and lever doorknobs, or high-tech devices, such hearing aids or motorized wheelchairs. Additionally, computer hardware and software, such as alternative keyboards, screen readers and voice recognition software, serve as forms of AT.
In many cases, while a device may not be considered AT by the mainstream public, it can often be considered so by people with disabilities. For a person with limited mobility, a simple back scratcher can become a reacher/grabber. For a person who is blind or low-vision, a cell phone loaded with appropriate apps can provide access to email, social media, transportation, public venues, and so much more.
Which AT solutions are designed for specific disabilities?
AT is not prescriptive, meaning not every tool will work for every person with the same disability. It is less about accommodating a specific disability, but more about accommodating the specific functional needs of a person with a disability. In many cases, one form of AT can accommodate many forms of disability. For example, voice recognition software can be a significant help for people with limited hand use, but can also be just as helpful for people who are blind/low-vision.
Is AT the same as an accommodation?
While AT can serve as a form of accommodation, it is not the same. Some accommodations, such as alternative work schedules, telecommuting, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/personalassistanceservices.htm" rel="noopener" target="_blank">personal assistance services (PAS)</a>&nbsp;are examples of non-AT accommodations.
How do I find the right AT for my needs?
Finding the best AT can often be a process of trial-and-error. If you&rsquo;re seeking AT to assist you at work, the first step is to let your employer know about your disability (if you haven&rsquo;t already done so) and that you need AT to effectively do your job.
If you or your employer don&rsquo;t already have an idea about the best AT to meet your needs, it&rsquo;s best to connect to professionals that are either familiar with specific forms of AT or that are trained to match AT to specific needs. This can often include doctors, occupational therapists, rehabilitation professionals, speech-language pathologists, and other AT specialists. Additionally, many states and universities house AT lending libraries, which allow people to try out and borrow devices for various periods of time in order to determine its compatibility for specific needs.
After doing research or consulting with a professional, here are a few questions you can ask to determine whether a specific AT tool will meet your needs, either at work or elsewhere:
<ul>
<li>Does the tool address your specific needs and challenges?</li>
<li>Does it maximize your strengths?</li>
<li>Is there a simpler tool that would work as effectively?</li>
<li>Will it be easy to incorporate into your work?</li>
<li>How easy is it to learn to use the tool?</li>
<li>Will you receive support or training on how to use it?</li>
<li>Is the tool compatible with the existing technology you use? (For example, will it work on your existing computer or mobile device?)</li>
<li>How reliable is the device?</li>
<li>What technical support is available?</li>
</ul>
The above list was modified from Understood.org,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/assistive-technology/finding-an-assistive-technology/checklist-what-to-consider-when-looking-at-assistive-technology" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Checklist: What to Consider When Looking at Assistive Technology</a>.
Who pays for AT in the workplace?
If you identify as a person with a disability, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), AT can serve as a reasonable accommodation that your employer can provide to help you perform the essential functions of your job.
If tasks are non-essential functions to do your job, your employer does not have to provide AT. Keep in mind that your employer doesn&rsquo;t have to purchase the latest or most expensive version of a specific device or AT.&nbsp;Additionally, if they find another way to meet your needs without purchasing AT, they can do so.
The&nbsp;<a href="https://askjan.org/index.cfm" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Job Accommodation Network (JAN)</a>&nbsp;provides worksite accommodations solutions, among other services to increase employability of people with disabilities, and has proven that most accommodations cost less than $500. Ultimately, your employer cannot simply say they will do nothing because they can&rsquo;t afford to, unless they have explored all alternatives and can justify that the cost of the AT would cause undue hardship. When all options are eliminated, the next step would be to explore funding the AT yourself.
To learn more about AT funding sources, check out the Assistive Technology Industry Association&rsquo;s (ATIA)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.atia.org/at-resources/what-is-at/resources-funding-guide/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Funding Resource Guide</a>.
Where do I go to learn more?
Assistive technology continues to increase access to employment for people with disabilities. However, it&rsquo;s important to consider individual needs to determine which AT tools will be best to ensure long-term success. To learn more about assistive technology in the workplace,&nbsp;contact the CareerCircle team.
Contributions to this blog were made by Andra&eacute;a LaVant of Solutions Marketing Group.

Assistive technology bridges gaps between abilities and job requirements, enhancing functional capabilities for individuals with disabilities.

What is Assistive Technology?

Four Women with Disabilities from History You May Have Overlooked&nbsp; Women with disabilities are powerful, complex, and accomplished people with valuable insights. Unfortunately, many famous women from history have had their disability identity erased from their legacy in the historical record. By highlighting women with disabilities from history, we honor these women&rsquo;s legacies and send a message to today&rsquo;s women with disabilities that they have the power to be tomorrow&rsquo;s leaders. 
With that in mind, here are four women with disabilities from history you may have overlooked:
&nbsp;
Harriet Tubman. Most famous for being a conductor on the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman was an escaped enslaved woman who dedicated her life to assisting other enslaved people escape to freedom. She acquired <a href="https://msmagazine.com/2022/02/10/harriet-tubman-disability-democracy/">several disabilities</a> <a href="http://www.harriet-tubman.org/early-life/">as a direct result of her enslavement</a> and had frequent headaches, narcolepsy, and seizures throughout her life. More recently, <a href="https://muse.jhu.edu/article/730157">academics are beginning to highlight</a> the role her disabilities played in her prominence as a freedom fighter.

Frida Kahlo.&nbsp;Frida Kahlo was a famous Mexican painter whose work centered around themes of pain, self-image, and beauty. While most people know Frida Kahlo&rsquo;s imagery and bold self-portraits, her <a href="https://deyoung.famsf.org/kahlo-identity">experience with chronic pain</a> is consistently erased from accounts of her life. After a childhood experience with polio and a severe bus accident, Frida Kahlo often used a wheelchair and many times painted from her bed. Some <a href="https://newhistories.group.shef.ac.uk/disabled-impressionism-art-through-the-eyes-of-frida-kahlo/">critics believe</a> that it is this experience that makes her work so powerful.
&nbsp;
Fannie Lou Hamer. Born into a poor sharecropper family in rural Mississippi, Fannie Lou Hamer found her calling as <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/fannie-lou-hamers-dauntless-fight-for-black-americans-right-vote-180975610/">a voter&rsquo;s rights activist</a> when she was in her mid 40s. Hamer also had polio as a child, the effects of which were exacerbated by a later brutal altercation with police in a Mississippi jail. This experience <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/676267/until-i-am-free-by-keisha-n-blain/">adds a new dimension</a> to Hamer&rsquo;s most famous quote, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m sick and tired of being sick and tired.&rdquo; 
&nbsp;
Kitty Cone. A fierce leader in the Independent Living Movement, Kitty Cone was a white lesbian disability rights activist and credited for being <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/26/obituaries/kitty-cone-overlooked.html">the &ldquo;organizational brains&rdquo; behind the Section 504</a> Sit-In protest in 1977. The sit-in is widely recognized as the longest non-violent occupation of a government building in United States history. In <a href="https://oac.cdlib.org/view?docId=kt1w1001mt&amp;brand=oac4&amp;doc.view=entire_text">her oral history of Section 504</a>, Cone notably states &ldquo;I am thankful for my disability. I feel like the constraints and the choices that it has given me have made me who I am. And, you know, I like who I am.&rdquo;

&nbsp;

Discover four women with disabilities from history who made significant contributions and left lasting legacies.

Four Historic Women with Disabilities

A workplace should be inclusive and friendly to all employees. Not all working tools are ideal for supporting all employees' activity at work. If you have disability inclusion team members, treating them right is necessary. 
 The role of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) tools is essential for supporting people with disabilities. The automated nature of AAC tools makes creating and sharing messages easier so that communication can run seamlessly. With various options available on the market, choosing one can be challenging for you. So we&rsquo;ve rolled up five top internal communication tools to support disability inclusion in your company. Keep reading! 
<h2> Grid 3 (for PC)</h2>
 Grid 3 is a comprehensive assistive software designed to help people with disabilities. It offers many features that can help them communicate easily. Also, consider using specific communication channels such as <a href="https://breadnbeyond.com/explainer-videos/">explainer videos</a> so new employees can retain crucial information better. Users can customize and control their computer environment according to their preferences. So they can personalize their working tools to provide the utmost comfort while working. The symbol communication feature allows users to choose words and phrases represented by symbols to communicate. There are ready-made grid sets available, and the editing interface is touch-friendly and easy to use. Moreover, the accessible apps in Grid 3 give access to Facebook, YouTube, email, SMS, and much more. This way, it gets easier for them to communicate and share updates with other employees. 
<h2> Predictable 5 (All Platforms)</h2>
 Predictable may appear elementary at first glance. But it is one of the best communication apps for everyday conversation with family, friends, and coworkers. Predictable offers a range of features designed to assist users in constructing sentences quickly and accurately. This feature is especially helpful for those with communication difficulties who need support making sentences in real-time. There is also backend support for all users through a free login profile. Changes made to settings and saved phrases are automatically and securely sent to the cloud, which users can transfer onto another device. 
Another feature is Floorhold, which speaks sentences while the user types their message. This feature is handy for AAC users who require time to build their responses and want their listeners to wait. Users can choose between automatic, manual, or both options to find the most suitable mode. In addition, Predictable offers five different keyboards, including a 10-key for scanning assistance and a customizable appearance with a modern and practical user interface. 
<h2>EZ Speech Pro (for iOS &amp; Android)</h2>
 EZ Speech Pro is another option to support disability inclusion employees. This app is mainly designed for those who can read but have limited ability to speak. One of the key features is Typing-to-Speech, which allows users to type in anything they want to say and press the &ldquo;Speak&rdquo; button. This feature provides a quick and easy way for individuals to communicate their thoughts and needs to others. EZ Speech also has Text Saving/Retrieval that users can use to create long paragraphs or complete speeches and save them for later retrieval. This feature ensures that users can access their pre-written messages anytime and communicate more efficiently.
&nbsp;
Moreover, EZ Speech allows users to create customized vocabularies with Topics and associated Phrases. Users can add as many Topics and phrases as they like and build a customized language. The app even comes preloaded with 13 Topics and over 350+ phrases, and users can type something and press the &ldquo;Speak&rdquo; button. This feature offers great flexibility and enables individuals to express themselves more accurately and confidently. 
<h2>Clarocom (for iOS)</h2>
 ClaroCom is an AAC app designed for iPad or iPhone. It aims to assist individuals with difficulties producing or comprehending spoken or written language. Offering text-to-speech features, it serves as a communication aid to replace speech or support writing for people with&nbsp;disabilities. Moreover, Clarocom comes in two free and paid versions that users can easily install on their iPhone or iPad. It has word and phrase predictions on a phrase bar above the keyboard. As it speaks out the phrases and sentences, the in-built voices are high-quality to provide the most natural output. 
<h2> Mind Express 4 (for PC)</h2>
 Mind Express is a communication software designed to assist people with communication disorders.&nbsp; The software draws on more than 20 years of experience supporting users worldwide, including those with cerebral palsy, autism (ASD), selective mutism, MS, MND, Down&rsquo;s syndrome, aphasia, and more, in their daily activities. Mind Express is used for various purposes, including <a href="https://onlinebizbooster.net/how-to-improve-team-communication/">communicating with partners</a>, friends, and coworkers. It also has leisure activities like playing games or watching movies. Many organizations, clinics, and schools utilize the app as a communication and teaching aid for children and adults. 
<h2>Takeaway</h2>
 Using supporting communication tools to aid employees is necessary to help them perform optimally. Some inclusive workers may already have communication tools, but companies also need to ensure that the tools they use are ideal for working. The above options are some of the best communication tools for disability-inclusive employers and can really help promote a <a href="https://spacehuntr.com/journal/15-team-building-activities-to-promote-diversity-and-inclusion/">diverse and inclusive work environment</a>. Some are available for desktop use, while others are compatible with smartphones and tablets. Besides, there are also free options available.
 Our platform is designed to connect you with the best and brightest candidates who bring unique perspectives and experiences to your team. Inclusion is not just a buzzword, it's a competitive advantage in today's rapidly evolving business landscape. Companies that prioritize equity and inclusion enjoy increased innovation, creativity, and employee satisfaction. Contact us at gettinghired@careercircle.com to take the first step toward building a more inclusive and successful workplace! 
<hr>
 Content Contributor:
Andre Oentoro is the founder of Breadnbeyond, an award-winning explainer video production company. He helps businesses increase conversion rates, close more sales, and get positive ROI from explainer videos (in that order). <img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/kWxHkXH8SqmggDXpCE9L">

Support disability inclusion with top AAC tools. Enhance your workplace communication and create an inclusive environment.

Tools to Support Disability Inclusion | Getting Hired

Tools to Support Disability Inclusion

Learn more about free job search tools, learning opportunities, and exclusive member events.

Discover CareerCircle

Access resources to advance your job search and career growth.

Tools & Training

Explore a wide range of job opportunities that match your skills and career goals.

Search Jobs

Create a professional resume that captures the attention of top employers with our easy-to-use tool.

Resume Builder

Prepare for your next interview with our expert tips and strategies.

Interview Prep

Discover in-depth profiles of leading employers to find your ideal workplace.

Search Companies

Develop in-demand skills with curated courses for today’s job market.

Courses

Access career resources and job postings anytime, anywhere with our app.

Mobile App

Source skilled, diverse talent and build your team.

Talent Acquisition

Access skilled, diverse talent ready to excel via our AI-driven platform, virtual events, and recruitment services.

CareerCircle TalentConnect

Transform your workforce and hiring practices with targeted diversity and disability inclusion trainings.

InclusiveU

Broaden your talent pool with dedicated support for professionals with disabilities.

Getting Hired Powered by CareerCircle

Mission aligned solutions supporting Non-Profit Organizations, Educational Institutions, and Local Workforce Development Boards.

Upskilling & Job Advocacy

Upskilling solutions designed to empower members with in-demand skills training and ongoing support for successful certificate completion.

CareerReady

Job advocacy solutions to connect job seekers to inclusive employers through dedicated recruiting support.

CareerAdvocacy

Learn how we connect underserved communities with careers and build skilled, diverse talent pipelines.

About CareerCircle

Discover answers to common questions and gain insights into our goals and services.

Reach out to us for inquiries, support, or to learn more about our mission and services.

Contact

Explore our blog for latest news and trends for job seekers and employers.

Blog

Access our virtual career fairs, job seeker workshops, and employer focused webinars.

Events

Discover real-life success stories of how we’re transforming lives and building skilled, diverse talent pipelines.

Case Studies

Get the latest news and updates on our mission, partnerships, and community impact.

Staff Writer

143 Articles

What is Assistive Technology?

Four Historic Women with Disabilities

Tools to Support Disability Inclusion