Tech for Inclusivity: A New Era of ADA-Compliant Solutions

The wonderful world of technology is advancing at an alarming rate, necessitating that the world evolves alongside it, including the adaptation of policies accordingly. Often, in many legal cases, crimes are hard to prosecute because the laws haven't kept pace with technology. Recently, there have been more developments that will improve the lives of many disabled Americans. The exoskeleton suit is one of those projects. Although the concept of the suit is nothing new—the earliest ones have been around since the 1960s—they had major limitations. These suits could weigh as much as 1,500 lbs and were not practical at all.

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Fast-forward a few decades, and we've seen major advances in exoskeleton suits and telepresence robots. This technology will be a significant factor in our daily lives soon. The suits weigh a lot less now; some of them max out at 27 lbs. However, price remains a significant deterrent.

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Reflecting on the initial prices of personal computers, only the very wealthy could afford them. Yet, as the technology improved, it became more accessible, and now there is nearly one in every home.

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Currently, around 30.6 million Americans report having difficulty climbing stairs or walking, or use external devices such as wheelchairs, canes, or crutches to get around. Imagine if these many people had access to exoskeleton suits or a telepresence robot once they become more affordable, and how this could affect the workplace. Several museums in California have hosted a guest who is a mute quadriplegic. However, he does have limited movement, which allows him to control a telepresence robot to tour the museum.

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In the future, it could be a possibility that exoskeletons, remote-controlled robots, and telepresence robots could be recognized as ADA accommodations. The ADA, passed into law in 1990, did not foresee the rapid expansion of technology. While the ADA lists auxiliary aids, it does not limit consideration exclusively to these devices. As mentioned above, the day will come when these technologies become more accessible to the masses, and it might be interpreted as a requirement by the Department of Justice.

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All things considered, key questions include the type of job being performed, the costs of such technology, and whether changes to the building infrastructure are necessary.

What are your thoughts on this matter?

#Sourcing #HumanResources #ADACompliance #TechForAll

References

"ADA Requirements and Technical Assistance". Ada.gov. N.p., 2016. Web. 3 Nov. 2016.

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"Can Remote Control Robots Be an ADA Accommodation? | Blogging4jobs". Blogging4jobs.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 3 Nov. 2016.

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"This $40,000 Robotic Exoskeleton Lets the Paralyzed Walk". MIT Technology Review. N.p., 2016. Web. 3 Nov. 2016.

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"Telepresence Robots Make Museums Accessible to Everyone". Slate Magazine. N.p., 2016. Web. 3 Nov. 2016.A

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