More inclusive workplace project launched
The “WERTE IT” project will be launched at the University of Siegen in December. It aims to help make workplaces in companies, organizations and administrations more inclusive. The Siegen project team is receiving funding of around 900,000 euros for the project
People with disabilities can work on computers without any problems – if web content and software are designed to be accessible and special input devices such as special keyboards, eye control or speech recognition are available. IT accessibility is technically feasible, but still far from standard in most companies, administrations and organizations. A joint research project between the University of Siegen and the Hamburg Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired has set itself the goal of making the world of work more inclusive. The project is tackling this at various levels: From establishing barrier-free IT solutions in the digital workplace to creating a corporate culture that enables all people to participate in working life. The project is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs with a total of around 2.5 million euros, of which around 900,000 euros will go to the University of Siegen.
“With this project, we want to ensure that more jobs in private and public companies and organizations can be opened up to people with disabilities in the future. We also see a more inclusive working world as an important measure to counteract the high shortage of skilled workers in many areas,” says Siegen project manager and holder of the Chair of “IT for the Ageing Society”, Prof. Dr. Claudia Müller. “Since the early 1990s, the topics of inclusion and accessibility have been repeatedly enshrined in various laws – yet the employment of people with disabilities continues to lag behind,” explains Siegen legal scholar Prof. Dr. Maximilian Becker, who is also part of the Siegen project team with his chair.
Together with the Hamburg Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the scientists from Siegen want to visit companies, organizations and administrations to work out solutions together. Corresponding agreements have already been reached with around a dozen employers throughout Germany, with more to come. In addition to companies, the Siegen-Wittgenstein district and the city of Munich are also on board. “For us, the project is not about imposing any requirements from the outside. Instead, we are pursuing a participatory approach in which we develop, implement and evaluate sustainable and practical solutions for greater accessibility together with local stakeholders,” explains Siegen project team member Sven Bittenbinder. Based on the experience gained from the project, the team would then like to develop a workshop concept that can also be used by other companies and organizations.
“We also want to initiate a paradigm shift in people’s minds and help to change strategic and personal attitudes towards inclusion. Only then can inclusion actually be put into practice in companies and organizations,” says Prof. Müller. The “WERTE IT” project starts in December and will run for three years.
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Claudia Müller (Chair of Information Systems, esp. IT for the Ageing Society)
E-Mail: claudia.mueller@uni-siegen.de
Tel.: 0271 740 4076