The Intranet & Workers with Print Disabilities
Stella O'Brien [smo-brien@lioness.demon.co.uk]
Simon Polovina
Lecturer, SCISM, South Bank University, London
Stella O'Brien [smo-brien@lioness.demon.co.uk]
Simon Polovina
Lecturer, SCISM, South Bank University, London
British businesses are urged by government to exploit the marketing and sales potential of the Internet; and to take advantage of the enhanced electronic communication facilities afforded by company Intranets. Intranets could potentially ensure that company information and communication is accessible to all staff, including colleagues with print disabilities, and should create wider employment opportunities. However, despite the recent Disability Discrimination Act, there is scant attention paid to disability concerns, and little awareness of the design issues which support access to electronic information for workers with print disabilities. Many company Intranets are inaccessible. Inability to participate in the 'paperless office' or to collaborate with team members at remote sites could too easily become 'reasonable grounds' for not employing a disabled applicant, or re-deploying an employee so many times that compulsory redundancy becomes an attractive option. There is an over-reliance on the prospect of Case Law which will defend the employment rights and opportunities of disabled workers. It is expensive and dubiously effective to retro-fit accessibility, particularly where it would involve remodeling business processes. It is imperative that Intranets are designed to be accessible to workers with print disabilities if employment opportunities are to be maintained; some proposals are discussed.