In this SkillAIbility interview, we speak with Davy Van Landuyt, Project Manager at the European Union of the Deaf, our project partner, about the transformative role of technology in building inclusive manufacturing environments. From confronting attitudinal barriers to embedding accessibility into the design process, Davy shares insights on how Universal Design, stakeholder co-creation, and systemic change can enable more equitable opportunities for workers with disabilities. Discover how our project is helping shape a future where technology and human diversity go hand in hand.
How can technology make manufacturing more accessible to people with disabilities?
Technologies have the potential to modify tasks and augment roles, enabling people with disabilities to leverage those technologies to fit into workflows, adapted to their diverse skills, talents and needs. Technologies can create new kinds of roles or modified roles, beyond simply trying to fit people with disabilities into existing (often inflexible) job descriptions. Adaptable technologies can even go beyond supporting vulnerable people, as these can also be beneficial to any worker with their individual preferences.
What are the biggest barriers to employment in manufacturing for disabled workers?
Despite the promise of technologies and growing awareness, significant barriers to employment for people with disabilities persist. These barriers are multifaceted, ranging from deeply ingrained attitudes to tangible physical and systemic obstacles.
Perhaps the most significant barriers are attitudinal: misconceptions, stereotypes from employers and managers regarding the capabilities of disabled workers, citing “concerns about safety” and “perceived inability to perform essential job functions”. These premature judgments are often reached without exploring reasonable accommodations or conducting individualized assessments of a candidate’s actual abilities, and thus closes doors before opportunities can even be considered. If there is no belief in the potential, there’s little motivation to invest in removing other barriers.
How can we ensure technology design considers accessibility from the start?
To create truly accessible technologies, the adoption of a Universal Design approach is required: accessibility must be an integral part of customizable technology design from its very inception, not an afterthought or a patch applied post-deployment. Universal Design is the concept of designing products, environments, and systems to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible. The most effective way to ensure technologies meet diverse needs is to involve people with a wide range of disabilities and needs throughout the entire design and development lifecycle. The principle of “Nothing about us without us” is paramount. This is not only more effective, it is also more economical and ultimately leads to better products and systems for everyone. Identifying and addressing potential accessibility issues early on is far less costly than retrofitting solutions later or dealing with the consequences of inaccessible technologies.
What changes would make manufacturing environments more inclusive?
While technologies can be powerful enablers, creating genuinely inclusive environments necessitates a holistic approach that extends beyond technological solitions. It requires systemic, cultural and policy changes that address the multifaceted nature of inclusion. Leaders need to demonstrate visible, vocal and consistent advocacy for inclusion, as this sets the tone for the entire organization. Awareness and training for all employees help to combat stigma, dispel stereotypes and myths, foster understanding, and promote allyship. Recruitment practices need to focus on the essential functions of a role, being open to accommodate diverse abilities by avoiding overly rigid job descriptions that may exclude otherwise qualified candidates. All stages of the recruitment processes should also be accessible, from job advertisements to interviews. Companies should provide equitable opportunities for career development and advancement for employees with disabilities.
How do you think the SkillAIbility project will contribute to more inclusive manufacturing environments?
The journey towards fully inclusive manufacturing environments is complex, yet filled with extraordinary potential. Technologies can offer a powerful suite of tools to dismantle barriers and create new pathways for participation. From augmented reality to cobots, innovation is steadily unlocking opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The SkillAIbility project focuses on various aspects of an accessible workplace and upskilling vulnerable workers, and actively involves all stakeholders in the co-design and co-development processes, clarifying the path forward to weave inclusion in the fabric of the manufacturing industry.
