Disabled to Differently-Abled in the Pandemic Era

Credit: PNGkit

“Diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance.” – Verna Myers, diversity and inclusion expert.

Everyone can agree that the world would be boring if we were all the same. Diversity in study, thought, race, gender, sexuality, etc., makes life interesting. But, has society established an environment of inclusion, where all people can succeed and live with ease? Not yet.

Because of the pandemic, pre-existing inequalities have heightened and become more apparent. It has forced businesses like Starbucks and Zoom to discover new methods to bridge this gap and scale-up inclusive practices.

In a socially-distant world, trivial tasks like ordering food have become increasingly difficult for those with disabilities, specifically the visually-impaired. In spring 2021, Starbucks launched Aira, an app that connects visually-impaired people to trained visual interpreters who guide them in real-time by viewing nearby surfaces and walls through the smartphone camera.

For many customers who walk into their local Starbucks, it's not just about the coffee; Susan Mazrui, a visually-impaired customer, says “it’s about joy. It’s finding those little minutes of delight in your day.” Mazrui previously avoided ordering Starbucks because she couldn’t remember the name of her favorite coffee. Now, “(With Aira), I can scan around and see that… they also carry Madeleines which my daughter loves.”

Like Aira for the blind, pandemic innovators have developed tools to help the deaf.

For the hearing-impaired, masks have put forth a tremendous communication barrier: we can no longer read lips. Ashley Lawrence’s clear mask, which replaces the previously opaque material that covers the mouth with a transparent window, has helped improve interaction face-to-face. While at virtual Zoom conferences, even for normal people, it is hard to understand what another participant is saying. Zoom transcripts have helped all of us, especially deaf citizens in the workforce. During meetings, the Zoom conference displays a live transcript that, while not 100% accurate, provides a readable written version of what the speaker is saying.

Both Zoom and Starbucks understand that there are not only social and moral repercussions but also economic consequences of neglecting disabled customers. Freeney Williams, a disability and diversity consultancy, estimates that not meeting the needs of online disabled customers cost UK retailers an annual €17 billion. Disabled customers simply will move-on if a website or platform is too difficult to use.

In addition to large businesses, sole-proprietors have been adopting inclusive practices. For example, Sarah Riesz and Anne Kissack developed a cookbook meant to empower those with ADHD and Autism who have issues cooking by themselves. Unlike normal cookbooks, all directions in their book are written simply with direct English.

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“ Confetti Corn

1 egg

2 tablespoons soft-tub margarine

1 (15-ounce) can reduced-sodium whole kernel corn

2 tablespoons pimento (1/2 of 2-ounce jar)

1/2 can crispy fried onions (1.5 ounces)

Dash pepper

Non-stick cooking spray

1. Wash my hands. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place strainer in sink.

2. Spray baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.

3. Break egg in bowl. Throw shells in trash. Wash my hands.

4. Beat egg with fork until bubbly. Set aside.

5. Open corn with a can opener. Pour corn into a strainer to drain.

6. Place baking dish near sink. Pour corn into baking dish.

7. Add to corn: egg, margarine, pimento, dash pepper. Mix with wooden spoon.

8. Shake fried onions on top.

9. Cover baking dish with lid. Place in oven. Wash my hands. Set timer for 35 minutes.

10. Turn off oven. Carefully remove from oven with oven mitt and potholder. Serve and enjoy.

This recipe makes four servings; 1 serving is a 1/2 cup. ”

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Printed as it appears in “Let's Cook: Healthy Meals for Independent Living” by Elizabeth Riesz and Anne Kissack.

In the healthcare sector, telehealth’s increased adoption, a direct effect of the pandemic, has had positive effects on care for the disabled. Even prior to the pandemic, these underprivileged people were largely confined to the four walls of their house and dependent on health tech services: in 2016, over 66% of telehealth users were disabled patients. The healthcare sector has embraced this new wave of “inclusive innovation” and will continue post-pandemic. Even as we progress towards normalcy, many provider offices now have designated doctors who are exclusively in charge of over-the-phone/video conferencing services. The last step is ensuring that we continue to provide disabled and underprivileged people access to phones, tablets, and computers, so they can access these essential services.

While our society, because of the pandemic, has progressed numerous steps towards a truly inclusive environment, which enables the disabled to live with ease, we have ways to go. As innovators, we must continue to keep our foot on the gas to change for the better.

Diversity was given to us. Now, we must establish inclusion.

Sources: Starbucks, The Gazette, We Forum, Early Metrics