I've worked in and around Assistive Technology (AT) for nearly my entire career, early on within the durable medical equipment industry, next in the development and application of the Parastep-I System - a functional neuromuscular electrical stimulator for limited ambulation and exercise, then with both augmentative communication and related computer interfaces that were often integrated with wheelchair control, and for the past six plus years primarily with AT to support higher productivitiy in the workplace.
While all of our clients or users of the DME, Parastep, or specialized communication were, by and large, eager to learn and apply the equipment or technology to their lives with the hope of improving some facet of them, I'd be lying to suggest that most of my current candidates or transitional professionals in the IT industry are equally motivated. Why is this? Please, I'd really like to understand why bright people who would clearly and objectively strengthen their professional skills such as inputting into a computer system, managing search functions, and collaborating with their peers seem so stubbornly set against investigating, testing and refining their AT acumen.
A Clear Productivity Difference
I think the clearest example relates to the challenge of speed of inputting. Quite a number of our candidates or consultants either key with one hand or key quite deliberately with both. In either case, it's clear that they are often at a disadvantage to their peers who have greater ability to input with both hands at a rapid and accurate pace. This can mean a great deal to a programmer, business analyst, QA/T analyst and many other roles within IT. One-handed, ergonomic, predictive or macro-heavy keyboards or software are commonly available http://www.enablemart.com/Catalog/One-Handed-Keyboards?gclid=CKTo26qM-p4CFQIhDQo duzKVMA - and many people have invested the time and learning curve to adopt them into their home and professional environments very effectively. However, I never seem to be able to make an impressive enough argument in favor of this to claim even a single victory in encouraging any of our folks to research, acquire (and many are available from AT lending libraries or other disability service providers), and try to give them a shot. They'd much rather continue to plod over a keyboard, hunting and pecking, content in the way "they've always done it". I feel obliged to press this point, since I'm concerned that the IT field and candidate pool is going to become even more competitive as we crawl from the Crash of 2008/2009. If you're a professional or candidate with a producitivity challenge that relates to your ability to maintain an acceptable pace of accurate inputtting due to upper extremity or other challenges - you need to optimize that productivity in any way possible.
Your manager has a right to consider speed and accuracy of data input, extraction or related as a factor in comparing productivity among employees. It's critical in the IT environment where cost/unit is high and accuracy is critical. Look in the mirror and honestly assess whether you've made the effort to integrate the most productivity-enhancing technology into your role or studies. If not, make it your 2010 resolution to make AT work for you as a productivity tool. Your career will thank you for it!
