Using AI isn’t ‘lazy’, it’s helping your disabled employees work better
Since its launch in November 2022, ChatGPT has been the focus of widespread debate about the role of AI in the workplace, with some viewing it as a revolutionary tool for enhancing productivity while others question its implications on job performance, authenticity and value for money when hiring freelance writers.
It's not the only AI assistive tool out there - more on these later - but it's free and quick, and unless they're lying, almost everyone uses it.
If you really, honestly, truly have never laid eyes on this technological sorcery, it's an advanced AI language model developed by OpenAI that understands and generates 'human-like' text. Like Google, it answers questions but in a much more detailed and tailored style. Unlike Google, it can also generate content, create to-do lists, pick out buzzwords from a job description, draft emails, debug code, provide career advice, write a three-hour screenplay (yes - really), and so much more. It's sort of overwhelming how ready ChatGPT is to be your virtual office assistant.
Did we mention it's free? Yes, we did. So it makes complete sense that employees and freelancers alike are using it to optimise their work performance. Yet we've seen recent cases of freelance contracts banning any use of AI in the content created (many recruiters think they can prove when ChatGPT's been used with an AI tracking scanner - it only takes two goes on one of these to realise how inaccurate they are). There's a concern felt by employers, or people paying for a service, that using an AI tool like ChatGPT is a way to cut corners, and therefore not 'do' the work yourself.
Amid all the controversy, there's an important perspective often overlooked: for many disabled people, tools like ChatGPT are more than just a convenience, they are a lifeline.
AI enables those with physical, cognitive, or sensory impairments to work more efficiently, organise their thoughts, type content quicker, and maintain independence in ways that might not have been possible before.
Instead of viewing AI as a threat to job authenticity or creativity, we should be recognising its potential to level the playing field. AI is not about cutting corners or avoiding hard work. It's about empowerment, accessibility, and creating a more inclusive workforce.
What are the accessibility benefits of AI?
For many disabled people, AI tools like ChatGPT open up new avenues for contributing to the workforce. These tools reduce the physical and cognitive load of certain tasks, allowing people with disabilities to focus on their core skills and talents.
Someone with a motor impairment might find typing or using a traditional computer system challenging, but voice recognition software and AI-powered virtual assistants can help them navigate digital environments and produce written content more easily. Similarly, people with cognitive disabilities like ADHD might struggle with organisation or memory, so can use AI tools to structure their tasks, set reminders, and keep track of deadlines.
AI tools can also be a game changer for people with sensory impairments. Screen readers and text-to-speech software have been vital since the beginning of the digital age, but AI takes these tools to the next level. AI can better interpret context, read content aloud in a more natural voice, and even translate complex data visualisations into text, making information more accessible to blind or visually impaired people.
AI Tools Beyond ChatGPT
While ChatGPT is a versatile tool, there are other AI technologies that specifically cater to different accessibility needs.
Speech recognition software: Tools like Dragon NaturallySpeaking are incredibly useful for people with mobility impairments. It allows users to dictate text and control their computers using their voice, reducing the need for physical interaction with a keyboard or mouse.
Text-to-speech and screen readers: Programmes like JAWS (Job Access With Speech) and NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) provide spoken feedback for every action a user takes on a computer. AI has made these programmes more sophisticated, enabling them to better interpret websites and documents for visually impaired people.
Cognitive assistance tools: Apps like Brain in Hand provide cognitive support for neurodivergent people and those with mental health conditions, offering prompts, reminders, and coping strategies to help manage anxiety, plan tasks, and improve time management.
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices: AI-driven AAC devices assist people who have difficulty with verbal communication. They can learn a person's specific needs and adapt to provide more effective communication support over time.
Predictive text and grammar tools: Tools like Grammarly and Microsoft Editor assist people with dyslexia or other learning disabilities by suggesting corrections and providing grammar and style improvements, making writing clearer and more accessible. Many of us, regardless of disability, rely on our phone and computer's spell check. Is it 'lazy' or does it just help us get work done faster?
Resetting attitudes to AI
Despite the clear benefits, there are still anxieties about the use of AI in professional settings. ome employers feel that reliance on AI could lead to a loss of essential skills, or that the content generated by AI lacks the authenticity or creativity of human work. These criticisms overlook the ways in which AI is being used as a tool to complement human abilities rather than replace them.
Of course, if someone copies and pastes an entire piece of content straight from ChatGPT, that content will lack a 'human touch'. But honestly, we can usually tell when this is the case, as even though ChatGPT has a multitude of ways to be used, it lacks the nuance of a real person behind the keyboard.
The vast majority of the time, AI-generated content still requires significant input and oversight from a real human. For instance, a freelance writer might use ChatGPT to draft a piece of content but will still need to review, edit, and tailor it to fit the specific requirements of their client.
Instead of viewing AI as a replacement for human skills, it's more valuable to see it as a powerful tool that actually enhances those skills. AI can handle repetitive tasks and assist with brainstorming ideas, so employees are free to focus on more strategic, creative and meaningful work.
For disabled people, AI isn't about replacing their skills but enhancing their ability to contribute to the workforce. Rather than seeing it as a shortcut, AI should be viewed as an adaptive tool that allows employees and freelancers to use their skills and talents in ways that might not have been possible before.
The future of AI and accessibility
As AI technology continues to rapidly evolve, its potential to support disabled people in the workplace will only grow more advanced. Innovations in natural language processing, machine learning, and robotics will provide even more ways for AI to assist with a broader range of tasks, making the workplace more inclusive and more accessible than ever before.
Looking ahead, it will be crucial for developers to prioritise accessibility in their AI designs. This means not only making sure that AI tools are accessible, but also that these tools are capable of creating genuinely accessible content. For example, AI that automatically generates accurate alt text for images, creates accessible PDFs, or formats documents in a way that is readable by screen readers.
As AI becomes more prevalent in the workplace, there will be an increasing need for education and training to ensure that both disabled and non-disabled employees can effectively use these tools. Employers could consider investing in training programmes that teach employees how to use AI technology, understand its limitations, and recognise the ethical implications of its use. They could even have an AI policy for staff which outlines what is appropriate and inappropriate use of AI. You can access a template for an AI policy here.
The debate around AI in the workplace is far from settled, but it's clear that for many disabled people AI represents a powerful tool for empowerment and inclusion. By minimising barriers to entry, improving productivity, and providing new ways to engage with work, AI has the potential to make the workplace a much more level playing field.
It's important to remember that these tools are what we make of them. Rather than viewing AI as a threat to traditional ways of working, we should see it as an opportunity to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for everyone, resetting our attitude to AI and focusing on its enormous potential to help disabled people work better: not by taking the 'lazy' option or cutting corners, but by opening doors.
This shift isn't about making life easier, it's about making work feel more possible.
Want to learn more about AI and it’s impact on your hiring? Join us at the SIC Conference to learn more from AI expert, Dr Rachel Dugdale. Find out more about the conference here.