Onboarding Question: Everything You Wanted to Know About Accommodations | Tough Topic Thursdays
Employee onboarding can be a challenging topic to navigate - especially when accommodations are involved. We're here to clear up the confusion.
September Feature
The Tough Topic Thursdays series is doing some deep dives this month, looking into specific questions related to disability and neurodivergence in the areas of Talent Acquisition, Employee Onboarding, Training and Development, and Performance Management. I’m getting to the good stuff - pulling out some questions I’ve been asked during conference Q&A and some archive pieces that never quite made it around. Stay tuned for the focus area that applies best to your work!
We’re also getting excited about something coming on October 1st for National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) - are you in? We’re kicking off the month with a LOT of celebration this year!
Keep reading to the end for the details.
What Does Accommodation Mean?
First, some definitions. Disability accommodation refers to many kinds of changes or adjustments made to allow an individual with a disability to perform the essential functions of their job. These accommodations can be physical, technological, or procedural, and they are designed to help individuals with disabilities work effectively and independently.
Disability accommodation is important in the workplace because it allows individuals with disabilities to contribute their skills and talents to the workforce and to enjoy the same opportunities as their non-disabled peers. Also, it helps employers to create a more inclusive and diverse workplace culture. Reasonable accommodations ensure that qualified individuals with disabilities have rights in employment equal to those of individuals without disabilities.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a US law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including employment, education, and transportation. Its purpose is to ensure equal opportunity for people with disabilities and to eliminate barriers that prevent them from fully participating in society.
Who is Covered by the ADA?
The part of the ADA enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) outlaws job discrimination by all employers with 15 or more employees. This includes state and local government employers. Job discrimination against people with disabilities is illegal if practiced by private employers, state or local governments, employment agencies, or labor organizations.
The ADA does not contain a list of covered disabilities. Generally, disclosure of disabilities is not required until an employee needs an accommodation to perform their job duties. Employees only need to provide enough information for the employer to understand the nature of the disability and the necessary accommodation.
Read more about disability disclosure at work in a previous Tough Topic Thursday:
Types of Accommodations
Reasonable accommodations can take many forms. Commonly used are assistive technology, physical modifications to the workplace, adjusted work schedules, and modifying job duties. The specifics will vary depending on the individual's disability and the requirements of the job. Most importantly, working closely with the employee through an interactive process will help to identify the most appropriate accommodations.
Resources for Employees and Employers
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): https://www.eeoc.gov/
EEOC Disability Resources: https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc-disability-related-resources
EEOC Employer Resource - Prohibited Policies/Practices: https://www.eeoc.gov/prohibited-employment-policiespractices
EEOC Employee Resource - Filing a Charge of Discrimination: https://www.eeoc.gov/filing-charge-discrimination
Job Accommodation Network (JAN): https://askjan.org/
JAN: A to Z of Disabilities and Accommodations: https://askjan.org/a-to-z.cfm
JAN: How to Request an Accommodation: https://askjan.org/media/accommrequestltr.cfm
JAN: Medical Exams and Inquiries: https://askjan.org/topics/medexinq.cfm
Advocating for Yourself: How to Request an Accommodation
Asking for what you need at work can feel intimidating, but it is a critical part of self-advocacy. This is a topic an upcoming webinar session next month will explore.
Who is EAPM? Read more here:
Be Your Own Best Advocate (Wed. October 15)
Our session starts by tackling the most personal form of advocacy: asking for what you need. It's common to have fears or hesitations when thinking about an accommodation request. We'll capture these fears and then counter them with practical strategies.
One key discussion point is identifying the need. How do you move from a vague feeling of "something is wrong" to recognizing "this is a barrier I need to address"? This is the first step in preparing your request.
Next, we'll focus on the "why" behind the "what." It's essential to frame your request around how the accommodation enables you to perform your job effectively, rather than presenting it as a special favor. This helps your employer understand that your request is about improving your productivity and contribution.
We'll also discuss communication strategy. Who should you talk to first: HR, your manager, or a trusted colleague? We'll cover the best way to open the conversation and what key information you should have ready.
Finally, we'll discuss the interactive process. It's important to remember that accommodations are often a negotiation. It's perfectly fine to ask for alternatives if a particular request is denied and work with your employer to find a solution that works for everyone.
Reader Bonus!
What’s this big deal happening on October 1st? We’re so excited to be sharing some new ways to learn from Inclusive Pixelation, dedicated to Making Work Accessible.
We’re kicking off October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) with a webinar on Accessibility in the Workplace. We’ll introduce you to several ideas you can apply right away, at all stages of the employee lifecycle! And as anyone who has been to our webinars know, this isn’t just some boring slide deck. We’ll have all kinds of audience participation and free goodies too!
We’re also launching our online course academy, A11yLearn - and you, dear readers, get the first course FREE! Sign up now for our microlearning module, An Introduction to Making Work Accessible, for an introduction to accessibility at work. Explore the rest of the course library too - microlearning modules will be released every week throughout September, with our full online catalog launching October 1. Save a course to your wishlist today!