Many companies struggle when it comes to providing inclusive technology in the workplace.
People with disabilities routinely face challenges in navigating technology in the office—from websites that aren’t properly designed for visually impaired individuals to computer setups that require a mouse and videoconferencing technology that lacks captioning.
Deborah Kaplan, deputy director of programmatic access at the San Francisco Mayor’s Office on Disability, is a longtime disability advocate whose current role includes citywide policy, guidance and training on accessibility best practices. Since a life-changing spinal-cord injury in her early 20s that left her with significant mobility disabilities, she has focused on making technology more accessible to all, a concept known as universal design.
“It’s a combination of having the right technology and the right people in place to make sure that technology is accessible to all who need it,” she says.
Ms. Kaplan spoke with The Wall Street Journal about where she sees room for improvement in workplace technology. Edited excerpts follow.
