Japanese Technical Engineer with Cerebral Palsy Works Effectively and Productively Using Her Computer, Assistive Technology, and Built-in Windows Accessibility Options

Avoiding a crowded commute is one of the advantages to working from home. Ayako Nakamura, of Oki Electric Industry Company, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan sees many more. Nakamura has cerebral palsy and has difficulty with speaking as well as mobility. But with the help of assistive technology and a forward-thinking employer, she is able to work productively from home and is now in her fifth year of employment as a technical engineer with the company.

Nakamura works exclusively from home using her Windows-based computer, the Internet and assistive technology. She uses the Internet to correspond with her managers and co-workers, allocate work, manage projects, and even to coordinate delivering goods. Difficulties in mobility and oral communication are resolved by using these technologies she says. "I can't imagine what my life would be like if not for the Internet," she says.

Alternative Input Provides Access

Nakamura uses an alternative input device to navigate her computer—a trackball mouse from Kensington. Alternative input devices such as these which replace the standard keyboard and mouse input schemes, allow users with mobility impairments to choose an input process that's right for them. Nakamura uses her chin to scroll the trackball and to make selections, or click the mouse. She also uses her nose to press the keys on the keyboard. She is very familiar with the keyboard because she's used a word processor since she was in primary school. Nakamura also uses the StickyKeys accessibility option in the Microsoft Windows operating system so that she can input keys sequentially rather than holding down multiple keys at once. She considers this feature a key to her work success—"I could not work without it," she says. Also, since it is relatively more difficult for her to move the mouse, she relies heavily on the right mouse key and context menus to make selections.

Hard Work Brings Achievement

After high school, Nakamura enrolled in college, majoring in literature. At the time, focusing on literature, Nakamura knew nothing about computers." But, I thought I would be able to work if I could work from home—so I studied computers. I always believe I can broaden my opportunities if I grab a chance to learn something." After college graduation in 1995, the Japanese social welfare corporation Tokyo Colony helped her prepare for employment through the "At-home Personal Computer Course." Courses are offered over the Internet and help with selection of assistive technology is part of the program. After she had finished the course—with high marks—she became an online instructor. She was hired by Oki Electric in 1998.

Oki TeleWork System Proves Popular

"The TeleWork (work-at-home) system is in its fifth year at Oki Electric," says Junko Takeda, of the Business Development team of Oki Human Network Co. Ltd., which supports Nakamura in her work. "When I was looking for something I could do for society using information technology (IT), I thought of this work-at-home system using the computer. We started with only 3 work-at-home employees—now there are 10. "No one has resigned from this work, so the stability of the workforce is quite high. We hope to continue to expand the team," said Takeda.

Involving People with Disabilities Helps Promote Universal Design

At Oki Electric, Takeda's department is responsible for providing support to employees like Nakamura. Other departments at the company are also involved. The Social Contribution Promotion Department asserts that one of the advantages of hiring employees like Nakamura is to gain knowledge to make their company's products easier for customers to use. "We believe that for companies involved in information technology, it is particularly beneficial for employees with disabilities to use IT as their working tools. We can learn from them." This helps spread the concept of universal design—designing products and places without barriers that are accessible and usable by everyone. "We think that the voice of people with disabilities at Oki Electric will have a positive influence on the products and corporate culture of the company," Takeda says. In addition, he points out, "The working environment that accessible technology and IT make possible may bring great benefits to the fast-aging Japanese society as well. It can make all of our lives better in the future."