Job Accommodations for Employees with Disabilities Can Be Simple & Inexpensive
All employees need the right tools and work environment to effectively perform their jobs. Similarly, individuals with disabilities may need workplace adjustments - or accommodations - to maximize the value they can add to their employer. An accommodation can be simple, such as putting blocks under a table's legs so that a person who uses a wheelchair can roll up to it. It might involve advanced technology, such as installing a screen reader on a computer so that a person who is blind can manage documents. Or, it may be procedural, such as altering a work schedule or job assignment.
While many employers believe that such workplace efforts are extensive and costly, the truth is that job accommodations usually are not expensive. According to the Job Accommodation Network, a free and confidential service from the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, almost half of the accommodations needed by employees and job applicants with disabilities cost absolutely nothing. Of those accommodations that do cost money, the typical expenditure by employers is a one-time cost of around $600. Importantly, employers who make accommodations report multiple benefits as a result. In a recent study, the most frequently mentioned direct benefits were (1) the accommodation allowed the company to retain a qualified employee, (2) the accommodation eliminated the costs of training a new employee, and (3) the accommodation increased the worker's productivity.
The Federal government offers a range of free resources for employers seeking accommodation assistance. For more information, visit the Employment/Workplace Accommodations section of www.DisabilityInfo.gov, an award-winning Federal government web site, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, featuring links to a broad range of disability-related information, or contact the Job Accommodation Network, a free accommodation consulting service provided by the Department of Labor at www.jan.wvu.edu or 1-800-526-7234 V/TTY.
