How to create an accessible workplace?

Is your workplace accessible for people with disabilities? Here’s a checklist!

We are all different, with different bodily, sensory, cognitive and psychosocial conditions, both visible and invisible. We have different needs and many of us use different aids. Working with accessibility is about recognizing these differences.

This list is not exhaustive, but is ment as a tool to assess accessibility in your enterprise.

Movement

• Thresholds have been removed

• Doors can be opened with an electric door opener 

• There is a lift in the building

• There are handrails also on stairs with few steps

• There are spaces for getting in and out of taxis/transportation near the main entrance

• Persons with disabilities have the possibility of parking near the main entrance

• The car park is well marked, illuminated and clearly signposted

• Toilets are adapted

Vision

• Level changes on the floor and thresholds are marked with contrasts 

• Digital tools and machines can be operated by visually impaired people

• ICT in the workplace is universally designed

• We provide audio descriptions of images and video and use good contrast colours

Hearing

• We have a hearing induction loop

• We have adapted office facilities for people with impaired hearing

• We use sign language interpreters as required

• The video material we produce has subtitles

Neurodiversity, chronic illness and mental health

• We reflect on how everyday work and tasks are organised, and what expectations we place on performance and social participation

• We make room for taking breaks

• We take into account that employees' physical health varies

• We take into account that employees' mental health varies

• We try to create space for open conversation about mental health

• We ask new employees about the need for facilitation and meet everyone with openness and flexibility

• The manager sets aside time to seek the necessary knowledge and expertise to work with facilitation and accessibility