Making Warehouse Work More Accessible for People with Disabilities

As a father of a ten-year-old autistic boy, I often wonder what work opportunities will be available for him when he grows up. He’s always loved sitting on the forklift when I brought him by the warehouse, so he may just end up following in my footsteps. Whatever path he chooses, I want him to have the same opportunities as everyone else: to earn a living, feel valued, and have access to meaningful employment.

As the retail landscape changes and e-commerce grows, warehouses face unprecedented labor challenges. Warehouses must now contend with increased demand, expectations for faster delivery, and the need to manage multiple channels while struggling to find enough labor to meet these demands. To address these challenges, warehouses must turn to other strategies and find ways to expand their labor pool. 

Technology such as automated systems, remote driving operations, goods-to-person systems, and user interfaces make it possible for people with a wide range of disabilities to perform warehouse work. And while not all organizations have embraced hiring people with disabilities, several companies have worked tirelessly to break down barriers. 

Finally, there are organizations whose mission is to train and advocate for potential employees with disabilities, helping to match them with businesses that need their skills. By working together, the industry can help to ensure people with disabilities have the opportunity to participate fully in the workforce.

Why Making Warehouse Work More Accessible Matters

One of the greatest fears about automation is that it will result in fewer jobs and large-scale unemployment. That seems unrealistic given the current state of labor, but these are valid concerns as machine learning and AI continue to advance in the warehouse industry. What if automation was used not to replace workers but to enable them? This would open new opportunities for people of varying abilities to enter the workforce. 

Addressing the Unemployment Gap

Depending on the age group, unemployment for individuals with disabilities is double and sometimes higher than for those without disabilities. In our modern society, technology has become a staple in the workforce. With automation and robotics playing an increasingly more significant role in the workplace, more jobs are becoming available to people with disabilities. Still, from a human standpoint, perhaps the most crucial benefit is providing meaningful employment to people who want to work.

Company Benefits

One of the critical challenges facing warehouse managers is finding and retaining reliable, hard-working employees. Organizations employing disabled people have higher retention rates and are more productive and profitable.  Warehouses open to hiring people with disabilities can find an untapped source of highly motivated workers. 

There are several reasons for this. 

• People with disabilities are often very loyal to the organizations that give them a chance. They know it can be challenging to find employment and are grateful for the opportunity to work. 
• People with disabilities tend to be very conscientious workers.
• Finally, people with disabilities often have a strong work ethic. As a result, they tend to be very dedicated and hard-working employees.

Warehouse Technology

People with disabilities have often been overlooked or neglected regarding meaningful employment. This perception is starting to change with the help of technology and automation. Assistive lifting equipment, VR training, and goods-to-person systems are just some ways that people with disabilities can now gain meaningful employment in warehouses. 

Remote Vehicle Operation

Phantom Auto, a 2022 MHI Innovation Award winner, is one of the leading companies in developing remote vehicle technology. This technology has the potential to benefit the disabled community in so many ways. 

Improving accessibility through adaptive controllers and removing work from hazardous environments expands the potential labor pool for companies and increases employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Remote vehicle operation removes barriers for workers with disabilities, extending the benefits ofremote work into areas that traditionally have been closed off to them. 

Goods-to-Person Systems

I used to walk north of five miles a day on those cold warehouse floors, and that is when I was in leadership. The amount of walking done by warehouse workers can be tiring; in most cases, it is considered wasted movement. 

Goods-to-person systems flip the script on standard order selecting by bringing the goods to the person or order selector. Goods-to-person systems such as AutoStore reduce the amount of walking and standing, making order selection more accessible for people with disabilities and those with limited mobility. 

User Interfaces

Today’s user interfaces for managing warehouse operations are easy to use and are similar to what people use on everyday devices such as Ipads. Drag and drop functionality, large buttons, and easy-to-read text make these interfaces user-friendly for everyone. Advances in voice-activated and touchscreen technology improve the accessibility of these systems for people with disabilities.

Assisted Lifting Technology

Exoskeleton suits attach to the person’s body and help them move with little effort.  The suit follows the operator’s movements and augments the operator’s strength. Providing these capabilities can be helpful for people with disabilities who want more independence.

Promoting a physically diverse workforce allows people with disabilities to contribute their skills and talents to the workplace. By restoring mobility to those who suffer from physical limitations, exoskeleton suits have the potential to help the disabled community by providing more work opportunities through accessibility. With the help of exoskeleton suits, the disabled community can become more visible and integrated into the larger community, benefiting everyone.

Creating Employment Opportunities

Throughout my career, I’ve worked with several organizations dedicated to facilitating employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Without the work of these organizations, the unemployment gap within this population would be drastically higher than it is today. 

Ken’s Krew is an organization that assists individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in finding employment. The organization was founded in 1997 by two families whose children had disabilities, and it now operates in nine states. Ken’s Krew works with Home Depot and CVS to provide job placement and training for its members.

Eggleston provides services to children and adults with disabilities in Virginia. They have many programs to help those with disabilities find employment. One such program is their Supported Employment Services program which provides job coaching and placement assistance.

Teaching the Autism Community Trades TACT takes a different approach to employment for the disabled community. At TACT, students learn trades such as carpentry and welding to provide a practical career path. In addition, TACT has a computer science program that can prepare students for more analytical roles throughout the warehouse.

These are just a few examples of the many regional and national organizations working tirelessly to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities. By partnering with organizations like these, warehouses can tap a new pool of qualified and willing employees. If you want more resources on employment opportunities for people with disabilities, click here. 

Willing Organizations

Today, more and more businesses are recognizing the value of hiring employees with disabilities. Companies like Sephora, Walgreens, and Home Depot are leading the way in making disability inclusion a priority in warehouse operations. When the employee and employer make a great fit, everyone benefits. Organizations raise awareness of how diverse viewpoints and skill sets may benefit organizations by providing employment opportunities to people with disabilities.

There are many reasons why hiring people with disabilities is good for business. 

• It helps to diversify the workplace and create a more inclusive environment for all employees. 
• It can boost morale and improve employee retention rates. 
• It helps to expand the pool of qualified candidates for open positions. 
• It demonstrates a commitment to social responsibility and inclusion.

People with disabilities bring many skills and perspectives to the workplace. They’re often highly motivated and hardworking employees eager to contribute to their team’s success. Studies have shown that employees with disabilities are less likely to take sick days and are often just as productive as their non-disabled counterparts.

A Diverse & Inclusive Warehouse 

I cannot help but worry about the future of work for my children, especially my son with disabilities. However, I find some peace of mind knowing that many companies are working to create adaptive and inclusive workplaces for people with all types of abilities. 

To continue to break down barriers and make warehouse work more accessible for people with disabilities, we need: advances in technology making jobs more accessible, willing organizations to embrace and drive change, and support for the efforts of groups, often non-profits, that help bridge the gap between businesses and potential employees with disabilities.

Written by Michael Huff