July is Disability Pride Month: a month that not only celebrates the identity, pride, and contribution of people with disabilities but also invites us to reflect on what we, as a society, can do to build a more equitable, accessible, and dignified future for all.
At BionIT Labs, we firmly believe that disability is not a limitation but one of many expressions of human diversity. Our mission is to develop innovative technologies, like Adam’s Hand – The World’s First Fully Adaptive Bionic Hand – and put them at the service of people, significantly improving their quality of life.
However, we are aware that technological innovation alone is not enough. Inclusion is a process that goes beyond technology: it is cultural, social, and naturally involves the world of work, which is one of the drivers of autonomy, independence, and self-determination for individuals.
As a Benefit Corporation, we have chosen to integrate into our statute, among other things, goals of common benefit, such as:
- Promoting an inclusive culture,
- Breaking down stereotypes and barriers,
- Encouraging the full participation of people with disabilities, also – as it should be – in the professional context.
With this spirit, on the occasion of Disability Pride Month, we decided to give a voice to those who work every day to make work a right, not a privilege. We met the team at Abile Job, an Italian organization that has become a reference point for employment inclusion and DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) consulting.
What follows is an interview that deeply enriched us. We share it with the hope that it may inspire reflections, connections, and, most importantly, concrete actions.
How did Abile Job start, and what is your mission?
“After a thirty-year career at a prestigious multinational company, where – among other activities – I had dealt with the employment of vulnerable people, in 2016 I had the intuition to start something unique: I resigned and founded Abile Job.
Abile Job is a consultancy firm in the field of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with the mission of facilitating the employment of people with disabilities, simultaneously spreading cultural and technical elements for authentically inclusive organizations. Every person – when placed in the right position and environment – can express their professional and personal value at its best.”
What are the main difficulties faced by people with disabilities today in seeking and maintaining a job?
“The primary barrier we encounter is cultural: this is often due to poorly managed employment placements, where lack of skills or absence of information prevents proper management. Often, selection managers, HR, or owners do not consider the possibility of identifying qualified candidates, even if they are enrolled in the disability placement program.
Next are architectural barriers, lack of digital accessibility, or a lack of willingness to provide reasonable accommodations – such as assistive technologies, larger screens, quieter and more peaceful workstations – that could enable individuals to fully express their potential, thus contributing to company productivity.”
What role can technology play in improving work accessibility?
“In addition to the aforementioned digital accessibility, technology can play two key roles in improving work accessibility for people with disabilities.
On one hand, there are personal aids, such as bionic limbs, highly mobile wheelchairs, and hearing aids.
On the other hand, there are reasonable accommodations, namely assistive technologies (reading/writing for the visually/hearing impaired), Braille keyboards, and software simplification tools (e.g., for e-learning modules). It is important to note that technology must go hand in hand with the culture of the team that will welcome the candidate, as well as the reference figures (HR, safety officers, occupational physicians, training managers).”
The words of the Founder, Renzo Marcato, and the team at Abile Job remind us how important it is not only to create opportunities but to build them tailor-made, so that they are impactful. At BionIT Labs, we believe that true change comes from a deep understanding of the needs of people with disabilities or, in our specific case, limb differences: that’s why every evolution of Adam’s Hand is born from direct dialogue with those who use it every day, in different contexts of daily life.
Direct interaction enables anyone working in this field to break down visible and invisible barriers. Technology can be a concrete support tool, but only if accompanied by an inclusive environment that welcomes and values every talent.
What are the most common mistakes companies make when they think they are inclusive… but they really aren’t?
“The first mistake is not giving a candidate from protected categories the opportunity to have an interview, out of fear that ‘it won’t work’ or that it will be too expensive to manage.
To start a real journey towards inclusion, it’s necessary to train both culturally (openly acknowledging prejudices and biases) and technically (having at least a basic understanding of different disabilities: motor, sensory, cognitive, psychological, etc.), and finally, organizationally. The latter point is crucial – creating a pathway to answer these questions: what reasonable accommodations are needed, for which positions to open, how to involve various teams, and how to encourage a cultural progression across the company.”
What should a job posting contain to be truly accessible and inclusive?
“A job ad formulated with clear, simple, and respectful language is the first identity card so that everyone feels welcome. We suggest that the application form includes a specific free field for ‘any needs’ so the candidate can clearly express any conditions that could make the interview accessible to them. Finally, digital accessibility, with settings compatible with screen readers or easily navigable interfaces.”
What advice would you give to a person with a disability who feels discouraged?
“Keep knocking on doors! Despite some resistance, there are regulations and pathways in Europe (like the Accessibility Act and Italian Law 227/2021) that pragmatically pursue feasible integration processes.
It’s essential to promote a culture of mutual interest and transparency to meet specific needs and encourage the best expression of one’s talent.
We have many success stories, but let us tell you the story of Simona, an autistic candidate who, after two years in a travel agency closed after COVID, was struggling to find work. The company gave her the opportunity to start part-time, which allowed her to adjust, find her balance, and perform at her best.”
Inclusion is a concrete choice, not a label to display.
Companies should therefore commit, starting with small concrete actions, to promote these initiatives, but above all, to promote internal training on these topics to raise corporate culture in a conscious and structured way. In this sense, consulting with an expert team like Abile Job can have a concrete and widespread impact.
At BionIT Labs, every day we collect stories like Simona’s: stories of empowerment that we proudly share in the BionIT Stories section on our website. This space was created to give a voice to those living with a disability, such as a limb difference – a deeply personal dimension that resists any attempt to be reduced to a single framework.
From our direct experience, we have learned that, with the right mindset, the support of qualified professionals, and the use of innovative technologies like Adam’s Hand, anyone can live a full life and reach their maximum potential.
Thus, celebrating Disability Pride Month goes beyond simply sharing values; it becomes a concrete opportunity to act with consistency and commitment, building a more equitable and accessible future for all.
🎯 Want to learn more about Abile Job?
Discover their projects and services at www.abilejob.it
💡 Want to learn about our users’ stories?
Explore BionIT Stories
🦾 Do you have a limb difference and are looking for a reliable and intuitive device to support you in everyday life? Contact us now!