Revolutionizing Workplace Accessibility: Gen AI's Top 10 Steps

The Future of Inclusive Gen AI in the Workplace

As generative AI (Gen AI) continues to transform our digital landscape, ensuring its accessibility is becoming a critical imperative. The future of workplace technology must be inclusive, serving the full spectrum of human diversity. Here, we explore the top 10 steps to make Gen AI accessible and inclusive, paving the way for a more equitable digital future.

1. Source Inclusively: Train Against Bias

The foundation of accessible Gen AI lies in the data it is trained on. It's essential to use datasets that reflect inclusive and respectful language around disability. Draw inspiration from global guidelines such as the UN Geneva’s Disability Inclusive Language Guidelines and the IPC Guide to Para and IPC Terminology. By training AI models on these principles, we can mitigate bias and promote fairness.

2. Integrate Accessibility and Anti-Discrimination Policies

Incorporate relevant global, regional, and organizational accessibility standards and anti-discrimination laws into your AI training data. This ensures that Gen AI systems not only comply with legal requirements but also reflect ethical responsibility. For example, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the European Accessibility Act (EAA) provide valuable frameworks for legal compliance.

3. Ensure Full Keyboard Navigation

Design your Gen AI applications to be fully functional using keyboard navigation. This is crucial for users who rely on assistive technologies such as screen readers. Implement at least two modes of interaction: if the content can be seen, users should also be able to hear or touch it, such as with braille displays.

4. Use Descriptive Titles

Label all page regions, conversations, and application sections with descriptive titles. This improves navigation and context, especially for users who rely on assistive technologies or switch between multiple open tabs. Clear and descriptive titles make your content more user-friendly and accessible.

5. Maintain a Logical Reading Order

Ensure your content is presented in a logical and predictable order that aligns with its visual order. This helps screen readers and keyboard users navigate the content effectively and comfortably. A well-structured reading order enhances the overall user experience.

6. Tag and Label Interactive Elements Properly

All interactive elements, such as buttons and links, should be labeled clearly with specific, action-oriented text and properly tagged with accessible markup. Avoid generic instructions like “click here” and use instead “review terms and conditions,” “contact us,” or “our products and services.” Proper labeling ensures that users understand the purpose of each element.

7. Simplify Language and Tag It Correctly

Use plain, clear, and simple language suitable for diverse audiences. Additionally, check that all content is tagged with the correct language attribute, so screen readers can interpret and pronounce text accurately. Unlabeled or misidentified languages can make content incomprehensible for assistive tech users.

8. Follow WCAG’s Color Contrast Standards

Color contrast is one of the most common WCAG Accessibility fails worldwide. Ensure text and interactive elements follow these guidelines for color contrast. Users who are color blind, have low vision, or have age-related vision problems should be able to read content without struggle. Never rely on color alone to convey information; use icons, labels, or patterns to reinforce key messages visually.

9. Provide Alt-Text, Captions, and Transcripts

Wherever you use images and GIFs, include descriptive alternative text (alt-text). When featuring videos, remember to add accurate captions and provide the entire transcript. For audio files, provide written transcripts for full accessibility. This allows users with vision or hearing impairments to access multimedia content independently.

10. Test with Real Users with Lived Experiences

No amount of simulation replaces lived experience. Involve people with disabilities in your testing process to identify barriers and uncover insights that automated tools often miss. Incorporate their feedback into your design, development, and iteration processes. Real user testing is essential for creating truly inclusive Gen AI applications.

The Bottom Line

By following these ten steps, organizations can significantly enhance the accessibility of their Gen AI applications, making them inclusive and user-friendly for everyone by design. The future of workplace technology is not just about innovation; it's about ensuring that innovation benefits all users, regardless of their abilities.