This business leader used AI to manage her disability in the workplace

When Natalie Suppes was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2007, using technology to manage her symptoms seemed like a far-fetched concept, and was also the last thing on her mind. 

"When I first got diagnosed, all I cared about was finding a cure," says Suppes, now the founder of digital and social media agency S&S Creative. "But as I went on with a chronic illness, I realized that while a cure was not coming, watching technology evolve felt like the playing field was being leveled." 

For years, Suppes spent the majority of her work day exhausted and burned out, managing frequent hospital visits to deal with uncomfortable symptoms. With few actionable strategies to improve her experience, Suppes often felt isolated.

Read more: 'Action and accountability': What it takes to foster disability inclusion at work

"I would be in and out of the bathroom at work or sometimes I'd be in the hospital, all while trying to keep up with my corporate job," she says. "It was really hard." 

Yet Suppes was confident there was a better way to work. At her own company, which is made up almost entirely of employees with disabilities, she's putting that in action with access to AI platforms that make work more accommodating for all. 

"We started using AI in the business about a year and a half ago," she says. "There are already so many things that it has done for me that have given me back time in my day to be able to take care of myself and not burn myself out as an entrepreneur with a chronic illness." 

Suppes and her team utilize platforms like Jasper, an AI marketing tool, and ChatGPT to streamline email writing, calendar organizing and other common workplace tasks that often take longer for those with disabilities and autoimmune disorders. For example, Suppes often plans and writes speeches as a disability advocate, a process that used to take several weeks. With AI, it takes her a day or two. 

"I still get to be a thought leader and to innovate," she says. "I just use AI to polish everything up. That way, all of the aspects of my business still get taken care of while giving me back a lot of time to be able to recharge." 

Read more: How the right tech could fix a toxic work environment

By implementing more AI, she's been able to mitigate the energy lost doing more menial tasks and stay focused and productive for longer periods of time. She also makes sure to host monthly training sessions where new services are introduced, sampled and discussed as a team. That way, there is continuous communication about what is still missing or could be improved as part of the employee experience. 

While Suppes' firsthand experience inspired her to implement AI, all employers should be considering how new technologies could play into diversity and inclusion efforts. As 23% of adults with a disability are currently employed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it's vital they have tools to contribute effectively and thrive. 

"Tech is that light at the end of the tunnel for employees with disabilities or invisible illnesses — every single thing that comes out gives us more freedom," Suppes says. "So when workplaces think of DEI, instead of an overhaul that might cost millions of dollars, they should consider how small changes in tech could actually be what improves accessibility and makes disabled folks feel less alone."