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Introduction
| Information About | Americans
with Disabilities Act | Accommodating Employees
| Resources | References
JAN’s Accommodation and Compliance Series is designed to help employers determine effective accommodations and comply with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Each publication in the series addresses a specific medical condition and provides information about the condition, ADA information, accommodation ideas, and resources for additional information. The Accommodation and Compliance Series is a starting point in the accommodation process and may not address every situation. Accommodations should be made on a case by case basis, considering each employee’s individual limitations and accommodation needs. Employers are encouraged to contact JAN to discuss specific situations in more detail. For information on assistive technology and other accommodation ideas, visit JAN's Searchable Online Accommodation Resource (SOAR) at http://www.jan.wvu.edu/soar.
What is hepatitis? Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by a hepatitis virus. There are several types of hepatitis infections. The three most common in the U.S. are Hepatitis A, B, and C (Hepatitis Foundation International, n.d.). Knowing your ABCs – What types of hepatitis are there? Hepatitis A: Hepatitis A is the most common type of Hepatitis. It occurs when a person is infected by the Hepatitis A Virus (HAV). HAV is transmitted through a fecal-oral route either by person-to-person transmission between household contacts, by sex contact, or by ingesting contaminated food or water. Blood borne transmission is rare. Hepatitis A is highly contagious if you are in close personal contact with an infected individual. The Hepatitis A virus can be transmitted through food; no other type of hepatitis can be transmitted through the food supply. Hepatitis A is not a chronic condition and has an incubation period of 20-50 days and occasionally requires hospitalization. Most individuals infected begin recovery within three weeks while others may have recurring symptoms for up to six months. Symptoms include fatigue, nausea, jaundice, fever & abdominal pain. There is currently no treatment for HAV, but it can be prevented with the Hepatitis A vaccine. Good proper hygiene and sanitation help prevent Hepatitis A (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). How is Hepatitis treated? There is no treatment for Hepatitis A (HAV), but 99% of the time HAV will clear up over a period of a few weeks to months. Treatment for chronic Hepatitis B usually consists of Alpha interferon and lamivudine. These drugs are effective in up to 40% of patients. For Hepatitis C, interferon and ribavirin are the recommended drugs. Interferon can be taken alone or in combination with ribavirin. Combination therapy is currently the treatment of choice (CDC, 2008). Hepatitis and the Americans with Disabilities Act Is hepatitis a disability under the ADA? The ADA does not contain a list of medical conditions that constitute disabilities. Instead, the ADA has a general definition of disability that each person must meet. Therefore, some people with hepatitis will have a disability under the ADA and some will not (EEOC, 2002). Accommodating Employees with Hepatitis Note: People with hepatitis may develop some of the limitations discussed below, but seldom develop all of them. Also, the degree of limitation will vary among individuals. Be aware that not all people with hepatitis will need accommodations to perform their jobs and many others may only need a few accommodations. The following is only a sample of the possibilities available. Numerous other accommodation solutions may exist. Questions to Consider:
Accommodation Ideas: Fatigue/Weakness:
Cognitive Complications:
Psychological Implications: (Difficulties adjusting to having a disability, stress, etc.)
Other Considerations:
Situations and Solutions: A factory worker with Hepatitis C, receiving treatment for six months, was experiencing flu like symptoms with extreme fatigue. The employer provided a modified schedule so that the employee could attend doctor's visits and also leave when symptoms were exacerbated. An account representative was out of leave due to treatment for Hepatitis C. The employee wanted to return to work, but due to side effects of treatment, could not maintain the stamina needed to visit clients. The employer reassigned the employee to another account representative position that did not require travel. A computer programmer with Hepatitis B was experiencing fatigue and nausea, which resulted in problems commuting. The employer provided a modified schedule and gave the employee an option to work from home. A food service worker disclosed Hepatitis C to her employer. The employer was concerned that the employee would risk transmission through the food supply. The employee provided a note from her doctor, indicating that Hepatitis C was "NOT transmitted through the food supply," and that the individual was "safe to perform the essential job functions." Note: Hepatitis A is a food borne illness, but Hepatitis C is not. Products: There are numerous products that can be used to accommodate people with limitations. JAN's Searchable Online Accommodation Resource (SOAR) at http://www.jan.wvu.edu/soar is designed to let users explore various accommodation options. Many product vendor lists are accessible through this system; however, upon request JAN provides these lists and many more that are not available on the Web site. Contact JAN directly if you have specific accommodation situations, are looking for products, need vendor information, or are seeking a referral. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2008). Viral hepatitis. Retrieved
September 5, 2008, from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/index.htm Updated 09/05/08 |
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