Large digital job platform linking hiring with accessibility assessment in workspaces

Job Map and Architectural Accessibility (Egalite) audits workplaces to identify and remove physical and job-access barriers. Launched in 2021, it assesses 400+ roles, maps readiness, has been used by 30+ companies and increased hiring of persons with disabilities.

Egalite is a social enterprise based in Porto Alegre, Brazil, which operates a recruitment platform and inclusion programmes to promote employment for persons with disabilities. Its Job Map and Accessibility programme combines architectural audits with functional job assessments to identify and address workplace barriers. Using national standards and Universal Design, it helps companies recruit, accommodate, and retain employees with disabilities. To date, over 400 job roles and 1.5 million square metres have been assessed.

Problems Targeted

Workplaces are commonly inaccessible and lack systematic approaches to remove barriers, limiting employment opportunities.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

Egalite’s Job Map and Architectural Accessibility service, launched in 2021, identifies and removes accessibility barriers in workplaces across Brazil. Using the Brazilian accessibility standards (aligned with NBR 9050) and Universal Design, the process analyzes built environments (e.g., entrances, restrooms, workspaces) while providing tailored functional job assessments across more than 400 job roles. Results are mapped on a readiness scale, providing actionable recommendations for improvements and guiding organizations through stepwise accessibility upgrades. The service is typically performed once, providing a comprehensive assessment of accessibility and inclusion readiness. Job Map and Architectural Accessibility has been adopted by 30+ companies in sectors such as mining, consumer goods, technology, and services. By 2025 over 1.5 million square metres of facilities have been audited, leading to measurable increases in both accessibility and job retention for persons with disabilities. Some companies reported a 40 percent increase in hiring of persons with disabilities within one year of implementation. Egalite also supports targeted training for HR and leadership professionals. Partners include multinational employers such as Vale, Beiersdorf, Coty, and ABInBev, plus the EY Brazil Permanent Accessibility Committee of São Paulo.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

Job Map and Architectural Accessibility is self-financed through service contracts with private companies, sometimes with government incentives. Its business model is based on one-time service fees, facility size, and number of job roles assessed. Plans include developing a lower-cost digital solution to broaden reach to SMEs and new regions, including Latin America. (#ZeroCall26)

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