Office Accessibility with Therefore™

by Cono Fusco

People with disabilities are an important and valuable part of our society, but often face undue burden when seeking employment, either due to stigma, physical limitations or discrimination.

We believe businesses have a moral obligation to include disabled people, as they represent an important facet of society. By creating an environment that lifts as many barriers as possible, business can support a more inclusive, equitable and just society.

Fortunately, many technological advancements have helped level the playing field.  Often, these features are make use of Universal Design, meaning, they make it easier for all users, and not just the disabled. Think of how text to speech – which is key for the Deaf -is now used to caption Instagram reels, or how curb cuts can be used by wheelchairs users as well as parents pushing strollers, or kids riding scooters. Another example of universal design at Therefore Headquarters are lights that turn on automatically when one enters the room.

Therefore™ is proud to be one of the many tools businesses can use to achieve inclusive working environment by decreasing the barriers of a traditional office environment:

  1. Therefore™ enables Work from Home

Working from home is a convenience appreciated by all employees, but for many disabled, it’s a must. Whether it’s due to a compromised immune system, mobility issues, or vision loss, not everyone can easily drive themselves to work, or hop in a crowded commuter train. Fatigue, or symptom flares may also impact a person’s ability to leave their home environment.

Hence, the ability to access files and participate in workflows from home is particularly important for anyone with less than perfect health. Fortunately, Therefore™ makes it easy to create a hybrid work environment. When all documents are in a central repository that can easily be accessed on a web browser, or mobile app, it’s easy to continue working regardless of location.

  1. Therefore™ decreases physical barriers

If all documents are stored electronically, anyone can retrieve a document with just a few clicks of a button. Certainly, no one enjoys digging through stacks of paper in a musty, dusty archive, but for an employee with a physical disability, or allergies this task may be extremely difficult, dangerous, or just impossible. Older documents may be difficult to read, particularly for someone with vision problems, like glaucoma.  Using Therefore’s convenient full-text search allows documents to be retrieved from the employee’s work station. Larger monitors, high contrast settings, and screen magnifiers can make text legible for those with decreased vision.  All these tools can be used only if documents and processes are digitized.

Therefore™ workflows also help decrease physical barriers. Rather than manually walking (or rolling ) around the office in search of a signature, Therefore™ enables documents to be routed electronically through the office. Employees can continue to be at their work station, rather than expend their precious energy chasing others around the office for a signature that may never come.

  1. Therefore™ offers clarity, organization and visibility

Therefore™ Workflow create structure and visibility of business processes. Employees can easily see where a document is in a process, and the system can route the documents down the correct path, using the information contained in the document. Moreover, Therefore™ can send out reminders to employees about upcoming deadlines, new tasks, and more. These visual cues and dependable reminders are appreciated by all, but for employees with learning disabilities, or brain fog, these tools can enable them to be successful and independent.

Certainly, society still has a long way to come in terms of being truly equitable to the disabled community, but modern technological advancements, and universal design can act as a step in the right direction.

Interested in learning more about Therefore™? Visit us here to see what webinar topics are coming up.

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