Joyojeet Pal
ABSTRACT
This is a qualitative study into the workforce participation of computer-based assistive technology users in Bangalore, India. We conduct a systematic examination of respondents' discussions on their workplace experiences, aspirations, social inclusion, future concerns, institutional perceptions, and technology use. We present results on six resulting themes: The evolution of aspiration post AT access, the economic engineering of AT users, Underemployment, Peer effects in employment choice, Perceptions of the state, and finally telecommuting and social inclusion. The participants' responses highlighted here present a rich narrative of the transition from training to the desk, given that many here are the first or only employees who are visually-impaired in their workplaces. These voices of the first generation of assistive technology users in India offer useful insights into the design of policies and services for visually-impaired populations, and a more accessible public sphere in the future.
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Index Terms
- Assistive technology and the employment of people with vision impairments in India
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