Job accommodation
for people with disabilities often requires a partnership between
the employee with a disability and company representatives. Like
any management issue, effective communication is imperative to success
in implementing accommodations. At JAN, we see the job accommodation
process as similar to many other workplace problems which are resolved
through research and common sense.
The JAN has a staff of
consultants who can provide individual assistance to facilitate
this research and communication process. Businesses, rehabilitation
professionals, and persons with disabilities can discuss their concerns
and information needs with JAN's Consultants and receive immediate
suggestions on solutions to accommodation problems.
JAN has conducted a survey
on the cost of accommodation since October 1992. As of July 1999
the survey continues to indicate that the cost of accommodation
in dollars is usually not expensive. JAN surveys employers who call
for accommodation information to obtain feedback on the cost and
benefit of accommodation. Results indicate that 71% of accommodations
cost $500 or less with 20% of those costing nothing.
Here we offer a few examples
to introduce the concept of accommodation to people who are learning
about accommodation and the hiring of people with disabilities.
These sample accommodations are not necessarily the "only"
or "ideal" solutions. Accommodations are made on an individual
basis, one at a time, so there could be several other possibilities
if an employer faces a similar situation.
We present these "situations"
and "solutions" to start the creative process. They can
be used to give a person who is inexperienced in hiring people with
disabilities an idea of some accommodations that have actually been
achieved. They make it easier to begin the process of working together
for change.
Situation: A person
had an eye disorder. Glare on the computer screen caused fatigue.
Solution: An antiglare
screen was purchased ($39.00).
Situation: A person
with a learning disability worked in the mail room and had difficulty
remembering which streets belonged to which zip codes.
Solution: A rolodex
card system was filed by street name alphabetically with the zip
code. This helped him to increase his output ($150.00).
Situation: A plant
worker had difficulty using the telephone due to a hearing impairment
that required use of hearing aids. It was suggested that he take
a lower paying job that does not require telephone use.
Solution: A telephone
amplifier that worked in conjunction with his hearing aids was purchased.
He kept the same job ($48.00).
Situation: A large
grocery store wants to hire an individual with Down syndrome and
a mild hearing loss as a bagger/stock person. The concern was that
he would not be able to hear the paging loudspeaker system that
was used to call employees to different parts of the store for work
assignments.
Solution: A personal
paging device, which was worn on the wrist or belt and which vibrated
when activated by an incoming signal, was purchased for the employee.
When signaled, the employee immediately went to the office for specific
instructions. In this way, the employer could be sure that the employee
both heard and understood his assigned tasks. Cost: $350.
Situation: A clerk
developed limited use of her hands and became unable to reach across
the desk to her files.
Solution: A lazy
susan file holder was provided so she could access the files and
keep her current job ($85.00).
Situation: An individual lost the use of a hand and could
no longer use a camera. The company provided a tripod, but that
was too cumbersome.
Solution: A waist
pod, such as is used in carrying flags, enabled him to manipulate
the camera and keep his job ($50.00).
Situation: A seamstress
could not use ordinary scissors due to pain in her wrist.
Solution:
The business purchased a pair of spring-loaded ergonomically designed
scissors ($18.00).
Situation: An
insurance salesperson with cerebral palsy had difficulty taking
notes while talking on the telephone.
Solution: Her employer purchased a headset for a phone
($49.95).
Situation: A person
applied for a job as a cook and was able to do everything required
except opening cans, due to the loss of a hand.
Solution: The
employer called the Job Accommodation Network, was given a list
of one-handed can openers, and bought one ($35.00).
Situation: A medical
technician who was deaf could not hear the buzz of a timer, which
was necessary for specific laboratory tests.
Solution: An indicator
light was attached ($26.95).
Situation: An
individual with dyslexia who worked as a police officer spent hours
filling out forms at the end of each day.
Solution: He was
provided with a tape recorder. A secretary typed out his reports
from dictation, while she typed the others from handwritten copy.
This accommodation allowed him to keep his job ($69.00).
Situation: A person
who used a wheelchair could not use a desk because it was too low
and his knees would not go under it.
Solution: The
desk was raised with wood blocks (scrap wood individual brought
in from home), allowing a proper amount of space for the wheelchair
to fit under it ($O).
Situation: A person
who worked outdoors had a medical condition which caused his hands
to be unable to tolerate cold.
Solution: The
individual used gloves with pocket hand warmers such as those used
by hunters ($50.00).
Situation: A person
with an unusually soft voice was required to do extensive public
speaking.
Solution: A hand-held
voice amplifier did the trick ($150.00).
Situation: An
employer wanted to make the elevator accessible to a new employee
who was blind and read Braille.
Solution: Raised
dot elevator symbols that were self-adhesive made the elevator accessible.
The cost was six dollars a piece.
Situation: A company wanted to hire a clerk who could not
access the vertical filing cabinets from her wheelchair.
Solution: They
moved the files into a lateral file and hired her ($450.00).
Situation: A person had a condition which required two-hour
rest periods during the day.
Solution: The
company changed her schedule and allowed her longer breaks, although
she worked the same number of hours ($O).
Situation: A systems
analyst in a state office has migraine headaches. The office was
set up in cubicle format with overhead florescent lighting.
Solution: The
accommodation was to move the person into his or her own office
and to use task lighting as oppose to overhead lights. The worker
is also sensitive to noise. The office was located next to a noisy
garage area so environmental sound machines were used to block out
some of the background noise that could periodically be a problem.
Cost approximately $410.
Situation: A worker who uses a wheelchair in a plant that
manufactures electronic components needed to be "grounded."
Solution: A "grounding foot strap" was attached
to the person's foot and a 5-6" chain was attached to the foot
strap. The chain lands down on the floor and serves as a ground.
The company made an extra device should they have a visitor to the
facility that uses a chair. There was a minimal cost for chain.
Situation: An insurance adjuster has an allergy to formaldehyde
used in some paper products and an allergy to rubber.
Solution: The accommodation involved using gloves for handling
paper and switching to paper that is recycled, chlorine free paper
and soy based ink products. These accommodations enabled the worker
to complete their required paperwork. Paper/ink cost increased approximately
$130. per year. Gloves $10.
Situation: An
individual with CP is in training to become a manicurist. The individual
has use of one hand only. Part of the job requires the individual
to hold the client's hand still with one hand while performing various
tasks with the other. The person could do the manicure procedures
but could not hold the hand still.
Solution: A device used for exercise in hand therapy was
used to hold the client's hand in place still providing access needed
by the professional manicurist. Cost approximately $100.
