Artificial Intelligence as a Workplace Accommodation: New Possibilities

Artificial intelligence is creating new opportunities to support employees with disabilities through workplace accommodations. Traditionally, accommodations have included adaptive technology, ergonomic solutions and changes to an employee's work environment. Today, AI-powered tools are expanding these options, helping employers reduce barriers and create more accessible and inclusive workplaces.

How AI Can Support Employees

According to the Job Accommodation Network, AI may provide workplace support in areas such as accessibility, perception, movement, comprehension, communication and executive functioning.¹ Examples include:

• Accessibility: An AI-powered application can detect alarms, sirens or equipment sounds and provide visual or vibrating alerts for an employee who is deaf or hard of hearing.
• Perception: Smart glasses can provide visual prompts and step-by-step guidance to help an employee with cognitive or sensory processing limitations operate machinery.
• Movement: An AI navigation application can provide real-time audio directions and obstacle alerts for an employee with a visual impairment moving through a large worksite.
• Comprehension: An AI assistant can summarize meetings or convert complex instructions into plain language for an employee with a learning disability or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
• Communication: Speech-to-text and AI writing tools can help an employee with dyslexia or other language-based learning disability draft emails and documents.
• Executive functioning: An AI task-management tool can break projects into smaller steps, provide reminders and prioritize tasks for an employee with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or a memory impairment.

With this information, employers and employees can work together to identify accommodations that help the employee perform the essential functions of their job.

Supporting a More Inclusive Workplace

The growing use of AI also supports the principles of universal design. Historically, accommodations are often provided after an employee identifies a need or makes a request. When helpful tools become part of the standard workplace experience, more employees can benefit from them. This approach may also reduce the stigma employees can experience when using specialized support.

Important Considerations for Employers

AI is not a replacement for individualized accommodations or human judgment. An effective accommodation still requires an understanding of the employee’s needs, job responsibilities and work environment.

Before adopting AI-enabled tools, organizations should also consider:

• Data privacy and security
• The accuracy of AI-generated information
• Accessibility and ease of use
• The employee’s individual needs and preferences
• The tool’s relevance to the employee’s essential job responsibilities

Expanding Access With AI

AI is giving organizations new ways to reduce workplace barriers and support a more inclusive workforce. When used thoughtfully, AI-enabled accommodations can improve access while supporting productivity, inclusion and the overall employee experience.

Contact your account manager if you have questions about how The Standard can support your organization’s accommodations program or find a representative near you for more information about our workplace benefits solutions.