Inclusivity as priority
No fear
‘How can someone who is blind not become an influencer, vlog, speak in public or represent society within politics?’ These are the words of Tjarda Struik, who has been mayor of Leiderdorp (a city in the Netherlands) since November 2023. She shows that, as an employer, you don't have to have any fear of people with a visual impairment at all.
After all, this disability says nothing about that person's intelligence. In principle, the employee's blindness also plays no role in social interaction with colleagues. After all, colleagues use their ‘speech’ to communicate with each other and this is an excellent form of communication for people with a visual impairment.
Accessibility
What you do need to ensure is that the workplace is accessible. Some examples of adaptations are workplace lighting, the use of objects in contrasting colours or a monitor magnifier. Thereby, employers are required by law (2006) to provide reasonable facilities in buildings to prevent exclusion.
Navigate independently
That is where the eZwayZ provides the solution. Indeed, the app allows a visually impaired employee to find the meeting rooms, go to the toilet or find their desk by themselves. With complex buildings, moreover, all employees benefit from the app. No one will be late for an appointment anymore!
AFAS Software first office in Europe to implement eZwayZ
AFAS Clubhouse
AFAS' head office implemented the eZwayZ app. After scanning the building, a 3D model was created using the so-called ‘point cloud’. In the eZwayZ cloud management module, all destinations, navigation paths and other Points of Interest (POIs) were added. Should anything change later, the AFAS building administrator can change it himself in the management module. After a round of testing with the target group, the app was implemented within a few weeks.
Britt Breure, HR Director at AFAS Software, is happy with the cooperation: ‘We receive hundreds of visitors every day. Colleagues, students, customers, but also visitors to the AFAS Theatre. By rolling out the eZwayZ app in our clubhouse, we want to provide a place for everyone who visits and works with us. Also people with visual impairments.’
Public Transport Module
The addition of the Public Transport module allows employees to travel to the office independently by public transport. This module provides up-to-date departure times of public transport to and from the office and navigates the employee to the correct bus stop or platform. This module is kept up-to-date by eZwayZ.
Experience for yourself?
Scan or click on the QR code to download the app. And visit the Rijksmuseum, NEMO or the Media Museum in the Netherlands to experience the app for yourself. Or visit the AFAS Experience Center in Leusden.
