Technological Interventions for Vocational Inclusion of Individuals with Disabilities: A Scoping Review

Background Technological interventions have shown considerable potential in facilitating vocational inclusion for individuals with disabilities. Nevertheless, existing research addresses isolated variables, such as the effectiveness of a specific technology or its application within a particular disability group, neglecting an understanding of the multifaceted factors that influence successful implementation. Objective To explore this issue, a scoping review was conducted to identify the range of technologies studied to date and to examine the key elements influencing effective implementation. Method Studies published in English and German since 2018 were included. Following the PRISMA guidelines and procedures, a total of 61 articles were systematically analyzed. Results The findings indicated that implementing technologies for vocational inclusion is a multifactorial process. Not only are individual characteristics important, but also the nature of the tasks (e.g., structure or type of the task), the characteristics of the technology (e.g., type) and the contextual environmental factors (e.g., setting or other stakeholders). Additional considerations such as motivational aspects, trainings, and the need for individualized approaches also emerged as critical. Conclusion The review highlights the importance of engaging multiple stakeholders, particularly people with disabilities, not only in the development of new technologies but also in their integration within real-world workplace settings.