Workplace accessibility guide for inclusive design by Permobil

17.06.2025

Permobil has published the Workplace Accessibility Guide. The new guide offers practical recommendations to make workplaces more accessible and inclusive for all employees – regardless of physical abilities. The guide draws from user experiences and insights gained during the development of Permobil’s 2024 production and innovation facility in Sundsvall, Sweden.

A man in a wheelchair and a woman having a discussion at an office table, both working on laptops; Copyright: Kristofer Lönnå Produktion AB

Permobil’s Workplace Accessibility Guide includes real-world insights and best practices from wheelchair users and accessibility experts to help shape truly inclusive workplaces.

The initiative reflects the growing awareness that accessible workplace design plays a critical role in recruitment, employee satisfaction, and productivity, especially in a labor market where talent is scarce.

"Workplace accessibility and inclusion are about all people’s equal value and right to equal treatment, but also about talent acquisition in a job market where this is one of the major challenges for companies today," says Bengt Thorsson, CEO of Permobil.

Practical tips for ten key workplace areas

The Workplace Accessibility Guide is structured around ten core zones within typical office or commercial environments: Parking, Reception areas, Stairs and elevators, Meeting rooms, Coffee stations and kitchens, Restrooms, Corridors, Lunchrooms.

These design suggestions are complemented by first-person insights from wheelchair users, sharing what truly inclusive environments mean in their everyday work life.

Collaboration with experts

Permobil partnered with accessibility specialists from the House of Disability Organisations in Copenhagen. These experts were involved in planning and constructing the Sundsvall site, helping ensure that theoretical guidelines translated into real-world improvements.

"With this guide, we hope to showcase smart solutions that open up the job market for more people to reach their full potential, regardless of their circumstances," Thorsson adds.

REHACARE.com; Source: Permobil