How we choose to communicate makes a significant difference in how our business treats both employees and customers. That's why when we rely on only one mode of communication, whether it's a traditional phone call or email, we're leaving some people behind. Adopting a wide variety of communication tools can help diversify the workplace, giving opportunities to a wider range of people.
Using multiple methods of communication is not only a good accessible process so that all parties can fully participate in the exchange, but it is also easier than ever due to the evolution of technologies.
Consider enhancing your business communication tools with these three technologies and watch your business flourish.
Change your text.
It's safe to say that email is the dominant method of business communication today, but depending on what the message contains and how it's formatted, accessing these standard messages can be difficult for the visually impaired. can
Ensure that visually impaired staff members have access to screen reading technology that can read web pages and emails. Also, be careful when sending newsletters, infographics, and even PDFs to staff and clients. It can be more difficult for people with low vision to read and can interfere with the work of screen readers.
The power of sound
By now, most people have realized that they can send text messages on their smartphones – it's one of the most accessible tools built into most devices. Plus, the advent of personal assistants like Siri and Alexa means more people are comfortable talking to their mobile devices.
Technological tools have somewhat normalized dictation and non-phone voice communication, but many businesses do not realize that for some people, including those with mobility and vision impairments, dictation is a preferred method of communication.
Software like Dragon NaturallySpeaking provides dictation editing and customization and makes other office technologies more accessible. It works with Word, Internet browsers, and a variety of other tools, performing all the functions you might otherwise be able to do manually.
Hitting the sound barrier
There are many reasons why people don't feel comfortable talking on the phone. Some employees or customers may be hard of hearing and rely on text and lip reading, while those on the autism spectrum, who are always part of the tech industry, though not necessarily openly, are often Struggles with auditory communication. For these people, then, the death of the desk phone is a welcome one, and its alternatives seem infinitely more accessible to communicate with.
Programs such as dialpads can replace business phones by integrating voice, video, and messaging into one simple system, eliminating the need for older TTY systems and offering easy-to-follow text-based communication. Such combinations meet multiple access requirements at the same time.
Be open to options
Ultimately, if you want to create a more accessible workplace, the best thing you can do is be open to the many options available to your workers in today's high-tech environment. Find apps that bridge the gap between different programs and devices, talk to software companies about their offerings, and check in with employees and customers about how they prefer to communicate. . Each person is an expert in their own needs and has a lifetime of experience navigating inaccessible systems.
People with disabilities are underemployed and underserved as customers due to inaccessible technologies, so take a step toward inclusion and diversity in your workplace by enhancing your communication tools.
Diversity makes us stronger, but those with the most reach have to lay the groundwork and open doors by offering the right tools.
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