Accommodations: Employer Supports

You already know that the Americans with Disabilities Act requires employers to make certain accommodations for employees with disabilities. Despite myths to the contrary, accommodating employees with disabilities in the workplace doesn't have to be expensive or complicated.

According to a survey by the Job Accommodation Network, 58% of accommodations cost nothing.

Hiring People with Disabilities

Vocational rehabilitation professionals may partner with employers to help make the application process and workplace inclusive and accessible to people with disabilities. This may include helping to identify workplace accommodations needed during the application process and on the job for new workers with disabilities.

How You Can Help

Employers need to know how to fulfill requests for accommodations, determine how accommodations affect the company as a whole, and ensure they’re in compliance with the ADA. Cultivating this expertise benefits the employer’s ability to retain talented staff and tap into alternative workforce potential. Vocational rehabilitation professionals can be a resource and guide for employers building capacity to hire people with disabilities.

Accommodations Distilled

Before a company can offer an employee a job accommodation, it’s important to understand what that is.

Under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done during the hiring process.

- Source: U.S. Department of Labor

Job accommodations give a person with a disability the same opportunity as persons without disabilities to not only obtain a job, but also to successfully complete all job-related responsibilities.

Supporting Employers

VR professionals work with businesses during the hiring process to help them understand and explore the type of accommodations that will foster workplace success for employees with disabilities. Making accommodations is a gradual process, not a one-time event. Learn more about strategies for employers to consider and some resources to share.