As an IT professional, I am constantly inspired by the potential of technology to drive positive change. One area where this potential is particularly evident is in diversity and inclusion.
Apps, IT, and legal tech tools aren’t just about increasing efficiency or reducing costs – they’re also about leveling the playing field and making everything accessible to everyone. For example, helping those with dyslexia or other learning difficulties by identifying and correcting errors so that their work is not unfairly disadvantaged by difficulties with spelling or grammar.
Similarly, spelling, grammar, and machine translation tools can help overcome language barriers for non-native English speakers, enabling them to contribute fully and effectively to our collective work.
Visually impaired people can benefit from text-to-speech capabilities that do not require rocket science kits – they are available on every single modern mobile phone.
Hearing impaired people, and again, us foreigners, benefit from automatic captioning in pre-produced videos and live Zoom or Teams meetings, as well as transcription of any audio messages, and so on. In some environments, adaptive noise cancellation in in-ear headphones is better than much more expensive professional hearing aids.
But it’s not just about accommodating disabilities or language differences – it’s also about fostering a culture of inclusion and respect. Tools that encourage collaboration and communication can help ensure that every voice is heard and valued, regardless of background or identity.
However, there are no translation tools to help the haters understand the wokes (two words I do not regularly use) and vice versa. Many people never think to put themselves in their opponent’s shoes, that there is a chance that they might be right on one particular point.
So it is up to us to be inclusive. For everyone. Always.
Ultimately, diversity and inclusion are not just about fairness – they are also about excellence. We need to ensure that we benefit from the full range of talents, experiences, and perspectives that our diverse team has to offer.
