Posted on April 1, 2020 by naricspotlight
Like
many people across the US and around the world, the NARIC team is getting used
to teleworking, or working remotely. Telework
is not a new idea, but it is a new reality for many of us as we all
practice physical distancing (while staying socially connected) in an effort to
slow the spread of the coronavirus. Telework is an arrangement that allows an
employee to perform work, during any part of regular, paid hours, at an
approved alternative worksite, different from where they would normally be
doing it. Teleworkers use a variety of information and communication technology
to get their jobs done, from phones and home computers to cloud-based programs
and collaborative workspaces.
Making
telework work for everyone, including employees with disabilities, can be
challenging, but it can also remove barriers to employment for some job
seekers. It can make it possible for people to engage in meaningful work if
they cannot leave home due to their disability or lack of transportation
access, or if there is a lack of local opportunities. It can even help
employment counselors and independent living coordinators assist those who are
looking for work. We looked at recent research and development in telework from
the NIDILRR community and elsewhere and found a range of resources to share.
Finding a Job: The Telecom Toolbox
The
Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Place-Based Solutions for Rural
Community Participation, Health, and Employment maintains the Telecom
Toolbox, a website dedicated to helping people with disabilities
find employment using online career development tools. The site has resources
for both job seekers and the service providers who support them, from how to
use communication technology and social media effectively to the ethics of
using online career development tools.
Supporting Workers with Disabilities: Vocational Rehabilitation
Guidance and Counseling Online (VR Online)
Vocational
rehabilitation counselors can support their clients with disabilities remotely
through a variety of telecounseling tools. The VR
Online portal offers a series of webinars to guide counselors
in using these options effectively and ethically. Courses include best
practices and strategies for telecounseling, online assessments, job searching
and career exploration, school to work transition, and more. Each course
includes a test at the end to receive continuing education credits.
Changing the Way We Work: Meeting Clients Virtually
Staff
from the Rehabilitation
Research and Training Center on Employment of Individuals with Blindness and
Other Visual Impairments led a recent forum discussion on remote training in vocational
rehabilitation, through the Older Individuals Who are Blind –
Technical Assistance Center (OIB-TAC). Since most training for people with
visual impairment occurs face-to-face, many professionals are searching for new
procedures to offer training during quarantines and physical distancing. Sylvia
Stinson-Perez and Kendra Farrow, both Certified Vision Rehabilitation
Therapists, facilitated discussions on working remotely, providing services and
training in a remote environment, and identifying helpful resources.
Removing Barriers to Telework
Some of
the barriers to telework include access to the technology of telework, like
cloud-based programs and collaborative workspaces, and access to high-speed
internet. Research from the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project on Inclusive Cloud
and Web Computing found that computer users with visual
impairments were often frustrated with accessing cloud and mobile technologies.
Americans with disabilities also are less likely to subscribe to broadband, according to
recent research. Here are a few resources which may help:
§ The
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Improving the Accessibility,
Usability, and Performance of Technology for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard
of Hearing offers Accessibility Tips for a Better Zoom/Virtual Meeting Experience.
§ The ADA
National Network and its Regional Centers can assist employees, employers, and
program providers in understanding their rights and responsibilities with
regard to telework as a reasonable accommodation, providing services remotely,
and other issues related to accessibility. Contact the regional center nearest
you by calling 800/949-4232. Visit adata.org for publications and links to all 10
regional centers.
§ State
Assistive Technology Projects can assist individuals with disabilities and
employers in accessing assistive technology for telework. State projects may
offer equipment consultation and installation, technology loan programs,
demonstrations or “try outs”, or financial assistance to purchase
equipment. Find your state’s AT project.
§ AbleData’s
database of assistive technology (AT) products lists hundreds of AT solutions for the workplace, including
AT for computing and communications. In addition, check out these factsheets:
Explore the research in telework
Our
REHABDATA index of disability and rehabilitation research literature contains
more than 200,000 abstracts of journal articles, books, reports, and consumer
products spanning over 70 years of research. That includes research on
telework, remote work, and virtual work. Follow these links to browse abstracts
of these documents:
If you
are interested in telework research, or need assistance in finding support to
bring accessible telework on board for you or your organization, contact the information
specialists at NARIC by phone, email, or chat!
https://naricspotlight.wordpress.com/2020/04/01/making-telework-work-for-everyone/
No comments:
Post a Comment