Breaking Barriers: The Challenges of Women with Disabilities in the Tech Industry

"Don't pity me!" were the words of Awashima Atu, fondly called Awa, a visually impaired young lady, as she narrates her challenges as a female in tech, and even more at that, one with a disability.

My first encounter with Awa was at Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, ?at a workshop organized by the Digital Transformation Center, Nigeria, SEDIN, and in collaboration with GIZ, where I was one of the invited speakers. The workshop was titled Promoting Gender Inclusivity in the ICT/E-Commerce Ecosystem (A workshop for ICT Value Chain Actors)

Awa wasn't born this way; she had always dreamed of making a mark in the tech industry. From a young age, she was fascinated by computers and the endless possibilities of technology. With a brilliant mind and a passion for innovation, Awa set her sights on a future filled with promise and opportunity. However, fate had other plans in store for her as she lost her sight to glaucoma, which left her visually impaired, shattering her dreams and leaving her world in darkness.

Everything she had worked so hard for overnight seemed to slip away, replaced by uncertainty and fear.

At first, Awa struggled to come to terms with her new reality. She felt lost, alone, and unsure of how to move forward. The tech industry, which once held so much promise, now seemed like an impenetrable fortress, closed off to someone like her with a disability.

Despite her challenges, Awa refused to give up on her dreams. With unwavering determination, she embarked on a journey of self-discovery and resilience. She sought out resources, support, and mentorship to help her navigate the complexities of living with a visual impairment in a sighted world.

Slowly but surely, Awa began to rebuild her life and her career. She learned to adapt to new technologies and tools to assist individuals with visual impairments, allowing her to continue pursuing her passion for tech. With the support of her friends, family, and colleagues, she found the strength to persevere in the face of adversity, and she learned to use the Microsoft Office applications very well.

She wanted to contribute her quota to the workforce, and she narrated that despite excelling exceptionally well in interviews, the interviewers would come back to her and tell her how she did very well but was not a good fit for the company. Even though not outrightly verbalized, she knew it was because of her condition. As she told her story, she sensed the atmosphere in the room and how we were all emotional, and she said -Don't pity me!

As she said those words, I realized that often, this is how we deal with people with disabilities when all they want is an enabling and supportive environment, giving them the platform to showcase their talent. Whenever I have the opportunity to motivate upcoming females interested in joining tech, I usually say being a female is just a definition of your gender and not your unique skills. In light of this, let me emphasize that any form of disability doesn't define our gifts and abilities; we are much more than our physical looks. Challenges or setbacks are opportunities to showcase our most tremendous potential and inner strength.

Why am I telling this story?

Even though Awa gave me the go-ahead to tell her story when I approached her during the workshop ten months ago, I struggled to put words together to convey the message I wanted. But as we celebrate this year's International Women's Day, I guess I am inspired by the theme: #inspireInclusion.

The tech industry has made significant strides in promoting diversity and inclusivity in recent years, but women with disabilities still face unique challenges that hinder their advancement in the field. Despite their immense potential, these women encounter barriers that prevent them from flourishing in the tech industry.

One of the most significant challenges that women with disabilities face in pursuing a tech career is accessibility. Both physical and digital environments are often not equipped with adequate infrastructure to support individuals with disabilities, thereby hindering their complete participation and growth in tech-related activities. The barriers to entry are pretty daunting, ranging from inaccessible workspaces to websites and software without proper assistive technology compatibility. These challenges make it difficult for women with disabilities to thrive in the tech industry.

It is worth noting that women with disabilities often face challenges when trying to access the same educational and professional opportunities as their non-disabled peers. These challenges may come from discrimination, unconscious bias, and misconceptions about their capabilities, limiting access to quality education, training programs, and career advancement opportunities. Unfortunately, this limited access can hinder their personal and professional growth while depriving the tech industry of valuable talent and diverse perspectives.

Another significant challenge that women with disabilities in the tech industry encounter is inadequate representation and visibility. In an industry where non-disabled individuals are predominant, women with disabilities often face underrepresentation in leadership roles, conferences, and media representation. This lack of visibility not only perpetuates misconceptions about women with disabilities but also deprives aspiring women with disabilities of role models and mentors to look up to.

Despite these challenges, many women with disabilities have made significant contributions to the tech industry, demonstrating remarkable qualities such as resilience, determination, and innovative problem-solving skills. Their contributions have enriched the industry and driven positive change. However, to fully empower women with disabilities in tech, the industry must collectively address their systemic barriers and create a more inclusive and accessible environment for everyone involved.

To promote a more diverse and inclusive tech industry, organizations need to prioritize accessibility and accommodation both in their physical spaces and digital platforms. This can be achieved by implementing inclusive design practices, providing assistive technology tools and resources, and offering comprehensive training on disability awareness and etiquette. Furthermore, organizations should focus on actively recruiting, retaining, and promoting women with disabilities in tech, ensuring equal opportunities for career advancement and leadership roles.

It's important to realize that raising awareness and challenging stereotypes about women with disabilities in technology is crucial for promoting greater acceptance and understanding. By highlighting their achievements, sharing their stories, and showcasing their talents, we can shift perceptions and inspire future generations of women with disabilities to pursue careers in technology.

One key takeaway from that workshop is the inspiring example of a woman who has tried hard to overcome obstacles in her tech journey. Despite many challenges, Awa's indomitable spirit and unwavering determination never wavered. She refused to let her disability define her or dictate her future. Instead, she used her experiences to fuel her drive and inspire others to overcome their challenges. However, more can be done for Awa and others with diverse forms of disability to fully realize their dreams of becoming outstanding IT professionals or tech geeks in the tech space.

In conclusion, the challenges faced by women with disabilities in the tech industry are undoubtedly significant but not insurmountable. For far too long, systemic barriers have prevented women with disabilities from participating fully in the tech industry. These barriers include inaccessible work environments, lack of accommodations, and unconscious bias. However, there are ways to address these challenges and promote accessibility and inclusion.

One crucial step is ensuring the tech industry is more accessible to people with disabilities. This means ensuring that work environments are inclusive, with features such as accessible entrances, ramps, and elevators. It also means providing accommodations such as assistive technology, captioning, and sign language interpreters to ensure everyone can participate fully in workplace activities.

Another vital way to promote inclusion is by amplifying the voices of women with disabilities. Too often, their perspectives and experiences are overlooked or dismissed. We can learn from their insights by allowing them to share their stories and ideas and create a more equitable and diverse tech industry.

Finally, we must work together to break down barriers and build a brighter future for all. This means challenging unconscious biases and promoting diversity and inclusion in every aspect of the tech industry. By doing so, we can create a more welcoming and supportive environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and succeed.

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cc: TechStylers awashima atu