Job Accommodation Network

INTRODUCTION

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is a free service of the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy. JAN consultants have been providing job accommodation information since 1983 when JAN was founded. In addition, JAN consultants have been providing information about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) since 1992 when the ADA went into effect. Over the years, JAN consultants have developed practical ideas to help employees understand the ADA and request and negotiate reasonable accommodations in the workplace. The Employees' Practical Guide to Requesting and Negotiating Reasonable Accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act is a summary of some of the most frequent issues that employees have regarding accommodations and the ADA and JAN's practical ideas for resolving them. As new information is available or new issues develop, the Guide will be updated to reflect the changes. If you have an issue that is not addressed in the Guide or if you want to discuss an issue in more detail, please contact JAN.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. ADA BASICS

What is the ADA?

Does my employer have to comply with Title I of the ADA?

How do I know if I have rights under Title I of the ADA?

Where can I get more information about the ADA?

II. REQUESTING AN ACCOMMODATION

How do I know when to request an accommodation?

How do I request an accommodation?

Do I have to tell my employer that I have a disability?

How much medical information do I have to provide to my employer?

What accommodations can I request?

III. NEGOTIATING AN ACCOMMODATION

How do I know if I am entitled to the accommodation I want?

What if I am not sure what accommodation I need?

What if my employer denies my accommodation request?

What if I need another accommodation in the future?

What if my employer retaliates against me for requesting an accommodation?