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Job Accommodation Examples
Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis. They are made as a cooperative effort among the employee with a disability and the employer. Depending on the nature of the services being provides and the preferences of the individual with a disability, One-Stop Center employment counselors may be involved in this process. Other individuals may also be involved such as union representatives, etc.
The main issues to be considered are:
- the job tasks that must be performed
- the functional limitations of the individual
- whether the proposed accommodation(s) will result in undue hardship to the employer.
Accommodations may include specialized equipment, facility modifications, adjustments to work schedules or job duties, as well as a whole range of other creative solutions.
Offered below are examples of accommodations that have been made for qualified workers with disabilities. These are strictly a sampling of accommodations that have been made, and this list is by no means all encompassing concerning possible solutions to accommodation issues.
To receive guidance on specific problems and possible solutions, call the USDOL Office of Disability and Employment Policys Job Accommodation Network at 800-526-7234, or 800-ADA-WORK (800-232-9675); e-mail: jan@icdi.wvu.edu; web site: http://janweb.icdi.wvu.edu JAN is a free service.
Mental Retardation
Blind/Visual Impairment
Learning Disability
Deaf/Hard of Hearing
Physical Disability
Mental Health/Psychiatric Disability
Medical Disability
Head Injury/Traumatic Brain Injury
Mental Retardation
PROBLEM: A cashier with mild mental retardation has difficulty
making change.
SOLUTION: The worker uses a talking calculator and a
chart of bills and coins. COST: $150
PROBLEM: A greenhouse worker with mental retardation has
difficulty correctly mixing various chemicals.
SOLUTION: Measuring
cups, a checklist, and the chemicals have been color-coded in a
coordinated manner so the person can accomplish tasks by matching
colors. COST: $25
Blind/Visual Impairment
PROBLEM: A new restaurant employee who is legally blind uses a
service dog to travel to and from work. The employee does not need the
dog to perform her job duties.
SOLUTION: A dog crate is placed in a
back office with a clear path of travel in and out of the facility. The
dog is crated during the work day and is out of any contact with food
products or supplies used in the restaurant. COST: $75
PROBLEM: A receptionist who is blind works at a law firm. She cannot
see the lights on the phone console which indicate which telephone
lines are ringing, on hold, or in use by staff.
SOLUTION: The
employer purchases a light-probe, a penlike product which detects a
lighted button. COST: $45
PROBLEM: An assembler/operator with a severe vision limitation has
the job of wrapping hose-pipe fittings with special tape. This requires
close examination of the work materials. Quality of work is very
important.
SOLUTION: A total view magnifier on an adjustable
swivel base is installed. COST: $450
PROBLEM: A legal department secretary in the cable television
industry who is legally blind has to perform such duties as typing,
answering telephones, filing and photo-copying.
SOLUTION: The
employee is given a specially designed work table to hold a personal
computer, a printer and a VTEK (a large print display processor which
replaces the smaller standard terminal screen), all of which can be
easily accessed. An automatic paper feeder is added to the printer.
COST: $1,360
PROBLEM: A college professor with AIDS is having vision problems
associated with the disability. His greatest difficulty is in grading
student papers.
SOLUTION: A video magnification system is
purchased which facilitated his reading the papers. In addition,
students who use the schools word processing system are asked to
provide copies of their papers on computer diskette. This allows the
professor to use a computer speech synthesis system which the school
has already purchased for students and staff with vision problems.
COST: $2,600
Learning Disability
PROBLEM: Because of low reading skills a child care assistant with a
learning disability has difficulty preparing lessons based on
childrens books.
SOLUTION: The employee is given a videotape of
various childrens stories and effective hand motions to review. COST:
$50
PROBLEM: A quick service restaurant grill operator has a severe
learning disability. He can not read, and can recognize only specific
single letters on orders for hamburgers.
SOLUTION: Condiment bins
are coded with the first letter of the item so that a worker can match
the orders to the bins. In addition, he is taught three key words
(only, none, and plain) through flash card repetition. COST: Less
than $25
PROBLEM: A person with an attention deficit disorder works in a
packaging facility and is having problems staying on the task.
SOLUTION: The employer provides a tape recorder with headphones
and cassette tapes which contains music and frequent reminders to
attend to the work. This reduces distractions and helps prompt the
individual to focus on the job. COST: Less than $200
Deaf/Hard of Hearing
PROBLEM: A worker who is deaf is responsible for inspecting
underground water utilities. When the employee is underground alone,
co-workers above ground need to communicate with him.
SOLUTION:A
wireless portable vibrating paging system is purchased for the
employee. COST: $445
PROBLEM: A teacher with a hearing impairment has difficulties
hearing the students voices over the squeaks of chairs and desks
moving over the linoleum floor. Also, the teacher can not see some of
the students faces and therefore cannot effectively lip read.
SOLUTION: To eliminate noise, used tennis balls are cut and
attached to the feet of the chairs and desks. The teacher rearranges
the desks in a horseshoe in order to see the faces of all students.
COST: $0 (The tennis balls are donated by an avid tennis player who
would have thrown them away.)
PROBLEM: A technician in the telephone service industry uses a
hearing aid. The job duties include installing and repairing telephone
lines, which includes using a butt-in portable test phone that is
attached to telephone lines being repaired. The test set interfered
with the technicians hearing aid.
SOLUTION: A butt-in test set equipped with an audio speaker is
purchased which allows the worker to test lines without having to place
the test set against the ear. This device is also useful for workers
NOT wearing hearing aids. In addition, the technician is provided with
an amplified tone locator. COST: $200
PROBLEM: A large grocery store wants to hire an individual with
Down Syndrome and a mild hearing loss as a bagger/stock person. The
concern is that he will not be able to hear the paging loudspeaker
system that is used to call employees to different parts of the store
for work assignments.
SOLUTION: A personal paging device, which is
worn on the wrist or belt and which vibrates when activated by an
incoming signal, is purchased for the employee. When signaled, the
employee immediately goes to the office for specific instructions. In
this way, the employer can be sure that the employee both heard and
understood his assigned tasks. COST: $350
Physical Disability
PROBLEM: A technical editor in the publishing industry has a
spinal cord injury and needs to work lying on his back.
SOLUTION: A
work station is provided that enabled the editor to work on a computer
while in a supine position. COST: $2,000
PROBLEM: A department store retail clerk with multiple sclerosis
uses a scooter and has problems with stamina.
SOLUTION: The
employee is reassigned to a department on the first floor, provided
with space for the scooter, given a sit/lean stool at the register, and
scheduled for first shift with every third day off. COST: $200
PROBLEM: An individual who has a congenital heart defect which
limits strenuous activity, and mobility limitations due to childhood
polio works as a receiving clerk, which requires unpacking merchandise,
checking it in, assigning numbers, and making price checks.
SOLUTION: A rolling chair with locking wheels, which adjusts to
the level of the task. COST: $200.
PROBLEM: A company vice president with arthritis has difficulty
maintaining stamina during the workday.
SOLUTION: The employer
provides flexibility in the vice presidents work hours and a recliner
for her office so that she can change body positions to cut down on
fatigue. COST: $750
PROBLEM: A clerk with low back strain/sprain has limitations in
lifting, bending, and squatting, all results of lower back injury. The
job requires mail sorting and filing incoming documents in a large
numerical filing system.
SOLUTION: Both the clerk and the
documents are put on wheels. A rolling file stool is supplied for use
when filing at lower levels, and upper-drawer filing is done with
documents on a rolling cart, without need to lift or bend. COST: $44
PROBLEM: A computer service technician with cerebral palsy
loses function of the lower extremities. The job related problems
include bending, stooping, balancing, and getting underneath the
mainframe equipment to perform need repairs.
SOLUTION: An
automotive repair creeper is purchased and modified with back support
to enable the employee to slide easily under the mainframes. COST:
$30
PROBLEM: A clerks hand has two large fingers instead of four
fingers and a thumb, and her arms are unusually short. This makes it
difficult for her to perform some of her job duties, including
answering incoming phone calls and accessing a computer to check
information for customer service representatives.
SOLUTION: A
large button overlay is used on the telephone; and a ball-shaped
device, with a pencil stylus going through it, is used to facilitate
taking messages and typing. Also used is a strap-on hand stylus for
straight typing. COST: $15
PROBLEM: An electro-mechanical assembly crew member acquires a
cumulative wrist/hand trauma disorder which affects handling and
fingering functions. This decreases his ability to use hand tools for
the assembly of electro-mechanical devices.
SOLUTION: A
rechargeable electric screwdriver is purchased, to reduce repetitious
wrist twisting. These are subsequently purchased for all employees as a
preventative measure. COST: $65
PROBLEM: A clerk whose job duties include delivering files and
paperwork to various areas in a multistory building has multiple
sclerosis which gradually makes it very difficult to move quickly and
to carry heavy packages.
SOLUTION: A lightweight, motorized
three-wheeled scooter with a basket is purchased for the employee.
COST: $2,000
PROBLEM: An airline programmer/analyst with post-polio fatigue
brought on by stress cannot be on call 24 hours a day and work overtime
as need.
SOLUTION: Waiver of the requirements of 24-hour on-call
duty and overtime. The employee works the hours prescribed for older
adult worker program participants of the airline. COST: $0
PROBLEM: An assembler for a furniture manufacturer has spinal
degeneration, uncoordinated gait and balance difficulties. The
limitations involve walking, carrying materials and balancing.
SOLUTION: Installing a plywood platform to raise part of the work
station, suspending tools from the ceiling to balance their weight and
using a cart to move assembly parts. COST: $200
PROBLEM: An experienced electronics equipment inspector paralyzed
from the waist down needs to perform tasks related to using precision
equipment and assembly inspection; he needs rapid mobility around the
plant.
SOLUTION: A heavy motorized wheelchair is stored on the
premises overnight for his use in the plant. The employee uses his
lightweight chair for travel. The bins containing items to be inspected
are lowered, and a lap-board is provided for his specification books.
COST: less than $200.
PROBLEM: The back problem of a well-drilling rig operator is
aggravated by the constant vibration of the standard seat in the rig.
SOLUTION: A scientifically designed mechanical seat is installed
which allows the operator to make necessary adjustments of position,
absorbing most of the vibration. The seat is used by all workers and
prevents additional trauma. COST: $1,100.
Mental Health/Psychiatric Disability
PROBLEM: A sales manager in a computer supply company is diagnosed
with severe chronic depression. Although treatment is initiated, she
continues to experience bouts of crying during times of stress.
SOLUTION: After discussion with her employer, she is provided with
the use of a small room for privacy. This room previously was usesd to
store office supplies. When she feels the need, she can take a break
and use this private area to compose herself. A new cabinet is
purchased to store the office supplies. COST: $200
PROBLEM: A productive worker with schizophrenia that was diagnosed
and treated successfully years earlier has begun to show radical
behavior changes.
SOLUTION: When confidential talks with the
employee are not beneficial, the employee and employer agree that the
employee will meet with a psychiatrist. The meeting results in a change
of medication which regulates the problem behaviors. The employer pays
for the counseling session. Cost: less than $200
PROBLEM: A data entry clerk has agoraphobia and has difficulty
traveling during peak hours of traffic.
SOLUTION: The employees
work hours are changed from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. to 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
COST: $0
PROBLEM: A clerk-typist with severe depression and problems with
alcoholism experiences problems with the quality and quantity of her
work.
SOLUTION: Employee is provided with extended sick leave to
cover a short period of hospitalization and a modified work schedule to
attend weekly psychotherapy treatment. Treatment is covered by company
medical plan. COST: $0
PROBLEM: A human resources manager has seasonal affective
disorder, a condition requiring adequate light during a sufficient
number of daytime hours to ward off depression.
SOLUTION: A simple
device called a sunlight box is installed in the persons office. COST:
$265
Medical Disability
PROBLEM: As the result of diabetes, a productive employee in a
retail business is experiencing fatigue, and needs time during the day
to administer medication. She is having difficulty performing her sales
duties for a sustained period of time.
SOLUTION: The employees
schedule is altered to allow for a longer meal break and for special
brief time periods during the day to administer medication. COST: $0
PROBLEM: An insurance claims adjuster becomes ill when exposed to
certain chemicals in the air (chemical sensitivity).
SOLUTION: The
ventilation system in the employees office is modified, and co-workers
are asked not to use scented products. The employee is also permitted
to attend staff and training meetings remotely by speaker phone and to
wear a mask when need. COST: $650
PROBLEM: A worker with a polycystic renal (kidney) disease is a
senior technician in the coal industry who is responsible for the
preparation of samples for testing. This employee requires Continuous
Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) four times daily, with one
exchange occurring during working hours.
SOLUTION: Space is made
available in the dispensary for the employee to perform CAPD while at
work. Storage space is also provided for extra supplies to be used in
case of bad weather emergencies necessitating a second exchange at
work. COST: $0
PROBLEM: A personnel manager with AIDS experiences a serious drop
in energy levels during the mid-afternoon hours.
SOLUTION: A small
chair that converts to a sleeping mat is provided. During a 90-minute
afternoon break, the employee puts a Do not disturb sign on the door
and takes a nap. All staff meetings are scheduled for the morning. The
employee makes up the time in the evening or on weekends as necessary.
COST: $50
PROBLEM: An administrative assistant with amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (ALS) has difficulty with using the phone, typing, computer
input, completing forms and reports, and doing some filing.
SOLUTION: A cordless headset for the telephone is purchased, arm
rest extensions from the edge of the desk are installed to reduce
strain on wrists and arms, and a new effortless lock and handle are
installed on the restroom door. COST: $450
Head Injury/Traumatic Brain Injury
PROBLEM: A worker with traumatic brain injury (TBI) is employed at
a bank, processing checks and other transactions. Items must be
numbered and placed into a sorting machine tray in a special manner.
The problem lays in periodic confusion due to memory loss and weakness
in one side of his body.
SOLUTION: A job coach/trainer supplied by
the rehabilitation agency assists in special training in task
sequencing, and equipment is adjusted to accommodate weakness. COST:
$0
These examples are excerpted from materials developed by the Presidents Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. Used with permission.
