Reading a sentence such as this one can be a simple task for some. Aristide’s station challenged participants to think about if it isn’t. By altering the participants’ perception, they saw a glimpse into what dyslexic individuals experience.
The participants experienced laughter and frustration as they utilized a mirror’s reflection to trace a star, while remaining in the lines and covering their hand with a sheet of paper. Employees agreed that this simulation was the most difficult.
Aristide led attendees in a discussion about accommodations like extra time to complete tasks, oral rather than written directions to complete tasks and/or text-to-speech software.
Fingers in Motion: Navigating Dexterity
During the event, attendees wrapped their thumbs and forefingers on their dominant hand as well as three fingers of the other hand to experience dexterity challenges. While immobilized, they wrote on a white board and sheets of paper, opened a lock and picked items up.
Participants discussed ways to support people experiencing dexterity challenges including text-to-speech software or alternative computer control, ergonomic keyboards and mice, positioning devices (i.e., equipment used to assist individuals in various positions such as sitting or standing) and other modifications.
The Stimulation Zone
The fourth station overstimulated participants as if they had autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Attendees wore over the ear headphones while listening to a track mimicking a crowded room of people and having a diffuser puff smoke in their faces.
Participants then completed the Junior TOEFL test: an eight-question exam designed for students who are learning English as a foreign language in middle and high school. Their task was to complete the exam and see how many questions they could correctly answer.
Aristide explained that people with ASD may experience sensory overload when exposed to loud noises, bright lights, textures, smells, crowds or other environments. To mitigate this overload, she told participating employees that individuals may require changing the office lighting; noise-canceling earbuds or headphones to block distractions; times, alarms, reminders to track deadlines; and other modifications.
Recollections & Action
Aristide expressed she wanted management to “think outside the box” on how and what they can provide individuals with disabilities through the event.
To get more leaders involved, she enlisted David Chai, Deputy District Engineer and Chief of Programs and Project Management Division (DPM), and Sarah Woo to adopt a disability for a day. Then both shared their experience the day of the event.
“They can’t escape it”
Chai experienced dexterity challenges for a day. He recalled a sense of anxiousness with having his fingers bound since he frequently uses his hands to do tasks. He stated receiving an email from senior leadership asking what the steps are for a specific task. Chai stated with a deep sign, “Man…this is going to be a long email,” due to his fingers being bound, not the length of the email. Chai realized this task that could be completed in a matter of minutes would require more time and attention to complete.
While lifting his bounded hands and examining them, he discussed the frustration he experiences for just a day. Chai stated he even ate with his hands because his usual utensil–chopsticks–was vexing to use.
Chai revealed his mother had arthritis while sharing his experience. He recalled thinking about what his mother goes through doing a simple task such as opening a jar.
“Folks with disabilities deal with it every day, they can’t escape it,” he said and reiterated during a later meeting that while the stations were difficult, they provided insight to having a disability.
“I felt like I was under the water”
Going into the event, Woo was determined to “fully immerse” herself in each simulation. She desired to understand what do disabled employees experience in the workplace.
“It was important for me to not only participate but to reflect on how these experiences relate to our work environment,” she said. “It was a real eye-opener regarding the importance of inclusive communication strategies.”
Woo volunteered to simulate a hearing impairment for an entire day. The aim was to demonstrate what could occur if a disability was not properly accommodated and how this could impact employee performance. While sharing her experience, she stated, “I felt like I was under the water.”
Woo explained challenges interacting with her colleagues or listening to instructions without a visual reference. “Experiencing deafness felt like being submerged in water—there was a sense of isolation and a struggle to connect with my surroundings,” she said.
Woo, like Chai, revealed her mother has a physical disability due to a past surgery.
“What bothers me when I take out with my mom is people,” she said while discussing people staring at her mom in public.
Impact in the Workplace
“I think that disability is kind of in the back of people’s mind,” Aristide said. “I don’t think people really realize that they can be impacted.”
As the Disability Program Manager, she created the event to encourage FED’s employees to think of reasonable accommodations the district could provide. “ I want people to realize that just because you have a disability does not mean you can’t work,” she said.
“Events like these are vital as they foster empathy and understanding,” Woo said. “They encourage participants to step outside their comfort zones and gain a deeper appreciation for the diverse experiences of others. They [these events] encourage dialogue about disability and accessibility, ultimately leading to a more supportive work environment.”
Visit the CDC and/or NIH for more information about each disability featured in the article.