Conceptualizing disability accommodation device acceptance by workgroups through a sociomaterial lens

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-01-2022-0010
• Published date: 07 October 2022
• Date: 07 October 2022
• Pages: 285-299
• Subject Matter: HR & organizational behaviour,Employment law,Diversity,equality,inclusion
• Author: Mukta Kulkarni,David Baldridge,Michele Swift

Conceptualizing disability

accommodation device acceptance

by workgroups through a

sociomaterial lens

Mukta Kulkarni

Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, Bangalore, India, and

David Baldridge and Michele Swift

Department of Management, College of Business, Oregon State University,

Corvallis, Oregon, USA

Abstract

Purpose –The provision of accommodationdevices is said to aid organizational inclusion of employees with a

disability. However, devices that are meant to enable might only partially facilitate productivity, independence,

and social inclusion if these devices are not accepted by the user’s workgroup. The authors outline a conceptual

model of accommodation device acceptance through a sociomaterial lens to suggest conditions influencing

workgroup device acceptance.

Design/methodology/approach –To build the model, the authors draw upon the sociomateriality and

disability literature to frame accommodation devices as experienced in ongoing interactions, representing the

goals, feelings, and interpretations of specific workgroups. The authors also unpack attributes of devices—

instrumentality, aesthetics, and symbolism—and propose how each of these can pattern social conduct to

influence device acceptance. The authors then draw upon the disability literature to identify attributes of

workgroups that can be expected to amplify or diminish the effect of device attributes on device acceptance in

that workgroup.

Findings –The conceptualization, which the authors illustrate with examples particular to visual impairment,

presents implications for who and what serves as a gatekeeper to accommodation device acceptance and

thereby workgroup inclusion.

Originality/value –Prior research has focused on conditions under which devices are requested by users or

made available by organizations, undergirded by the assumption that devices are well-specified once provided

and that they operate relatively predictably when used in various workgroups. The authors focus instead on

what happens after the device is provided and highlight the complex and dynamic interaction between an

accommodation device and the workgroup, which influences device and user acceptance.

Keywords Accommodation devices, Disability, Sociomateriality

Paper type Conceptual paper

Introduction

The most recent literature review of research on workplace treatment of employees with a

disability suggests that accommodation is a key inclusion practice (Beatty et al., 2019).

Accommodations involve adjustments that are aimed at overcoming barriers posed by the

physical and social environment that can impede a disabled employee’s equal employment

opportunities. Examples include ergonomic adjustments, modified working hours, sign

language interpreters, and modified tasks (International Labor Organization, 2016). Our

focus is on a particular form of accommodation: devices. Devices—defined as human-made

assistive implements, including technology-based ones—are assuming special importance in

aiding physical and mental abilities (World Health Organization, 2021).

Disability

accommodation

device

acceptance

285

The authors thank Editor Lee Martin and the reviewers for the guidance in developing this manuscript.

The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:

https://www.emerald.com/insight/2040-7149.htm

Received 14 January 2022

Revised 24 April 2022

23 August 2022

17 September 2022

Accepted 22 September 2022

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

An International Journal

Vol. 42 No. 2, 2023

pp. 285-299

© Emerald Publishing Limited

2040-7149

DOI 10.1108/EDI-01-2022-0010