Empowering inclusion in the workplace through AV: supporting people with disabilities on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2025
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities invites us to reflect on how we can build a world that is more equitable and accessible for everyone.
Accessibility is a fundamental requirement of good design. And AV technology, when used thoughtfully, provides some of the most effective tools for supporting people with disabilities.
At Midwich, we know that when spaces are designed with inclusion in mind, organisations create better experiences for everyone.
Why accessibility matters in AV
AV solutions can bridge gaps that traditional setups leave behind. Whether it’s ensuring spoken information is accessible to individuals with hearing loss, enabling better wayfinding for people with sight loss, or reducing sensory overwhelm for neurodivergent users, AV is now central to how inclusive spaces are built and experienced.
The key is intentional design. Businesses need to think beyond installing technology and look towards integrating tools that meaningfully support a diverse range of needs.
Assistive listening technology that strengthens communication
Clear communication is essential in all scenarios, and AV technology offers several ways to make spoken audio more accessible.
Modern assistive listening systems, such as induction loops, infrared systems and RF transmitters, can transform shared spaces like meeting rooms, reception areas, lecture theatres and venues.
Brands such as Ampetronic provide high-performance systems that deliver clear audio directly to hearing aids or receivers, helping remove barriers in both professional and public environments.
For businesses, the key considerations include:
- Ensuring assistive listening coverage is available in all key customer or employee touchpoints
- Maintaining signage so users know support is available
- Training staff to operate systems confidently
- Integrating solutions into wider AV design rather than adding them as afterthoughts
When implemented well, assistive listening technology promotes autonomy and ensures everyone can engage equally in conversations, presentations and events.
Enhancing accessibility for people with sight loss
Sight loss is a spectrum. For people experiencing any kind of visual impairment, AV tools can provide vital support in interpreting information and navigating spaces.
Large-format displays from brands such as Samsung and Sony offer high-contrast modes, crisp readability and flexible font scaling, which are crucial for ensuring visual content is clear and usable. Increasingly, digital signage platforms also incorporate text-to-speech features, tactile controls or audio wayfinding triggers.
Other considerations include:
- Prioritising high-contrast digital content
- Ensuring consistent lighting around displays
- Keeping layouts predictable and uncluttered
- Pairing visual signage with audio alternatives
By designing visuals with accessibility in mind, organisations open up inclusive ways of accessing information.
Solutions that support physical accessibility
Deploying thoughtful AV solutions in a space can also assist those with physical disabilities in quickly and safely moving through an environment.
Placing motorised mounts, adjustable workstations and accessible control interfaces ensure touchscreens can be positioned to suit wheelchair users or anyone with limited mobility.
When planning for physical accessibility, organisations should consider:
- Reach height guidelines
- Offering multiple control methods (touch, voice, app, remote)
- Step-free access to devices
- Motorised or adjustable equipment where possible
Accessible design ensures a consistent experience for every employee and visitor.
Creating sensory-friendly environments for neurodivergence
Neurodivergent individuals can experience environments differently. Bright lights, unexpected noises and crowded visuals can make spaces overwhelming, and can make everyday tasks more difficult.
AV technology can help create more predictable environments, using tools like flexible lighting control, adjustable volume settings, acoustic treatments and thoughtfully chosen displays.
Brands such as Philips and Epson offer solutions that support low-stimulus environments, whether through quiet projectors or streamlined visual design. Pair this with dimmable lighting in zones, and softer digital signage displays to reduce the sensory load.
When designing for neurodiversity, businesses should think about:
- Reducing visual clutter
- Avoiding rapid flashing content
- Offering adjustable brightness and volume
- Providing quiet zones or predictable pathways
- Selecting technology that introduces minimal noise
The goal is greater comfort, autonomy and choice.
Designing for inclusion from the start
The most accessible spaces are those designed with accessibility in mind from the very beginning. Organisations should:
- Consult with people who have lived experience
- Ensure accessibility is part of their AV project brief
- Test solutions with a diverse range of users
- Choose brands with strong accessibility credentials
- Integrate physical, sensory and digital accessibility into one unified plan
When businesses take this proactive, thoughtful approach, AV becomes a powerful enabler that supports communication and independence for everyone.
Get in touch
At Midwich, we’re committed to helping organisations build inclusive, accessible environments using the best of AV technology. If you’d like support designing or upgrading your spaces, we’d love to help. Contact us today to speak with our dedicated product teams.
