Within technical and professional communication research, limited attention has been given to the experiences of disabled employees in the workplace. This article presents findings from a study of complaints filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2023 under federal disability law. The authors use a thematic analysis of the initial complaints to surface the "stories of clash" between organizational practices and individual experiences of disability. They found that interactions between organizational actors and organizational disability policies and practices impact how individuals experience disability in the workplace. The study thus offers insights for cultivating an accessibility mindset to promote inclusive practices.
Although technical and professional communication (TPC) has long drawn on theories, methodologies, and methods from other disciplines, the authors argue that the Delphi research approach can aid researchers as they study and attempt to address the complex, context-dependent, and recursive nature of teaching and learning how to teach writing. The authors provide a brief background of the Delphi research approach and describe the steps to perform it in general terms. Then, they explain those steps in the context of a localized example and explain how this approach would most benefit the field of TPC. They conclude with a discussion of lessons learned and suggestions for future research.
Organizations increasingly recognize web accessibility as both necessary and beneficial for legal, ethical, and economic reasons. This article shows how instructors can easily integrate accessible web design into an introductory web design and development course for business students who have limited experience with design theory and user interface design. By applying testable criteria, following industry-standard guidelines, and using online tools, these business students can successfully build websites that individuals with visual, hearing, cognitive, or motor-control disabilities can use. The authors present their approach, describe specific assignments, and provide suggestions for incorporating accessibility into a traditional introductory web development course.
