Ever heard of a CAO or Chief Accessibility Officer? In all likelihood, the answer is no, however the term is gaining popularity in some parts of the world. While international companies like IBM and Microsoft have boasted this title amongst their executive roles for many years already, South African employers, as with most disability-related issues, are trailing far behind.
The role of a CAO is to improve accessibility within an organisation and to promote inclusion at all levels. While accessibility is typically associated with people with disabilities, investing in a more accessible workplace has benefits for everyone in the business and can positively impact the company’s bottom line. Creating greater accessibility extends beyond just the employees working in your business; the CAO function must also consider the ease of access to consumers of your company’s goods and services. Accessibility is therefore a comprehensive requirement which must take into account the needs of all stakeholders.
In most businesses, the responsibility for ensuring adequate access internally falls to one of two departments – Facilities Management or Human Resources. The danger here is that individuals within these areas are unlikely to have the depth of knowledge and skills required to effectively tackle accessibility issues, particularly those relating to disability, and they may also fail to understand the risks and challenges involved.
According to Justene Smith, Disability Expert at Progression, accessibility is not a priority for most South African businesses. She explains, “Companies don’t really understand accessibility and they fail to allocate budget towards it. If accessibility issues are addressed at all, it’s usually only incidentally from a Health and Safety perspective or when meeting B-BBEE targets require it.”
Some of Progression’s clients have undertaken environmental accessibility audits to determine the limitations in terms of access and ease of use within their workplaces. Justene confirms, “Most of these companies are in the manufacturing sector which typically presents challenges in the form of very big sites requiring increased mobility as well as the physical nature of job roles. Health and Safety is also a priority in these spaces and very strict protocols are usually in place to control entry and exit.”
While mobility is the obvious challenge in industrial environments, there may also be some less apparent issues to be considered. “While conducting an accessibility audit at one particular client’s large manufacturing site, it became clear that mobility was not the only obstacle – the site was made up of a network of busy roads with trucks and other heavy vehicles. The traffic, uneven paths and lack of shade all posed significant hazards to people with visual impairments as well as albinism,” Justene recounts.
Just as disabilities extend beyond just people using wheelchairs, accessibility encompasses more than concerns only around mobility. Conditions such as visual impairments, albinism, epilepsy, hearing impairments and intellectual disabilities require a review of various factors including lighting, acoustics, temperature, signage as well as communication methods. However, prejudice and negative attitudes remain the greatest obstacles faced by people with disabilities, particularly those with invisible disabilities such as mental health conditions.
Company strategies should ideally be aligned to the principles of universal design which focusses on planning and creating products and environments that are accessible by all people regardless of age, culture, ability, gender or other differences. It aims to address all barriers to participation, including attitudinal barriers and should incorporate interventions such as awareness training to tackle prejudice and change mindsets. Although universal design principles provide great benefits to people with disabilities, they can be enjoyed by all and can make life better for everyone.
Considering the significance of accessibility and the extensive benefits to be derived, there is huge value in adopting a structured and intentional approach and investing in a dedicated person for the role. The world is changing rapidly and businesses need to embrace the principles of diversity and inclusion in order to remain relevant. By prioritising accessibility and creating workplaces that are inclusive and welcoming, companies can afford equal access and opportunities for everyone and ensure their own growth and prosperity into the future.
