Work Challenges: Use a Little Creativity!

Hello everyone…

Recently, Barbara left an interesting comment on my post about Working Remotely that I wanted to share with all of you, because I think it brings up a topic many of us might have ideas about or experience challenges ourselves. Below I’ve pasted Barbara’s comment for you to read and following I’ve added my response:

Barbara Comment: Hi Bill - Your story is really inspiring to me. I have a mobility disability. It's always a new day - I find myself problem solving daily just to keep working in pace with those around me. Keep your positive spirit. I've learned it's a choice, not a feeling.

My Response: Thanks for visiting and sharing your perspective. I continue to learn that it takes courage to post a comment, but it really means a lot when people do it. I sure know what you mean about keeping up with others who might not have challenges that might slow them down. Here are a few tips that have helped me out:

Before I have a string of meetings back to back I have to get my documents staged and the dial in numbers noted so I can go from one meeting to the next and have everything ready. Using a screen reader I cannot move around and open up multiple documents from a multitude of locations (email, web sites, zipped files, in folders) as quick as sighted users. This staging of materials helps me. I record the dial in numbers for the meetings I have on a digital voice recorder so I can get to the phone number and any conference code needed quickly and easily.

Barbara, do you have any tips you want to share that will help others who might have mobility challenges?

How about the rest of you… Does anyone else have challenges and tips to help us succeed and live a more fulfilled life?

Look forward to hearing from you.

Bill Tipton

Contributing Author,

Global Dialogue Center

http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

Comments

[Barbara Harberts]

I have to do the same "line up" prior to meetings that you do, Bill. It's a great organization technique. I used to measure myself each day in efficiency terms - lots of multi-tasking; I have changed the metric to effectiveness and find that evaluation is more appropriate.

There is a tool for mobility impaired workers provided by HP called RSI-Guard which allows one to keep track of keystroke information and keyboard/mouse stress. The statistics are compiled into reports which enable one to try to balance weekly/monthly workloads. The keyboard stress also shows frequent key combinations for analysis so keyboard macros can be written. There is a break-timer which guides a time for stretches, etc. It also has a "Auto-Click" feature which means that mouse double or single clicks are automated.

Another is that we all need special equipment to be successful - and we need to make our managers aware of our needs early to allow for budget planning (if needed). HP also provides training on software or hardware tools for accessibility. Managers are eager to help all of us be more productive, but it is up to us to open the dialogue. Special headsets, microphones, switches, keyboards, software, tablet and other input devices all combine to compensate to advance effectiveness.

My favorite tip to organize meetings is that I use DNS (Dragon Naturally Speaking) to take a print screen of slides during netmeeting or HP Virtual Classroom, then paste them to daily notes I keep. I can then speak my comments on the slide during the meeting with DNS and keep track of my questions/to-do..Some days the notes are really large, but I can edit when I review.
I use Franklin Covey Plan Plus which helps coordinate my world into a neat "notebook" syncronized with Outlook and I use DNS/Tablet input/occasional keystrokes to keep track. It also allows easy searches when I am trying to remember a name, an URL, etc. Sometimes I even record (after advising the presenter) and retain presentations for playback.

I'd love to hear how others organize and compensate. I'd also like to know about tools which help build effectiveness. I'm so excited to find this forum.