Helpful Tips to Consider if You Need an Accommodation in the Workplace

Vocational Rehabilitation 
On July 26, the Americans with Disabilities Act turned 31! This important legislation has been critical in ensuring individuals with disabilities are not discriminated against in several areas, including employment. Below are some helpful tips to consider if you need an accommodation in the workplace. 

When to disclose or ask for an accommodation 
Generally, a person should disclose their disability when they need to request a reasonable accommodation for the workplace. Under the ADA, a person can request an accommodation at any time. This could be during the application process or while employed. There are situations when an applicant may need to disclose information about a disability during the early stage in the employment process. For example, if an accommodation is needed to complete an online application, participate in a job interview, or take an employment test, an applicant may need to disclose his or her disability to receive an accommodation. 

Pre-interview 
If you have a visible disability, sharing the details pre-interview may be helpful. Disclosing that you use a wheelchair may be helpful to the employer so the interview can be conducted in a meeting room with a door that is wide enough to accommodate the chair. Accommodations for interviews may include an accessible location for a person with a mobility impairment; a sign language interpreter for a person who is deaf; a reader for a person who is blind; and modified testing for a person with a learning disability. 

During the interview 
Focus the interview on your qualifications and work experience. If you think your interviewers are wondering about your disability or worried if they will have to adjust responsibilities or the office layout it may be helpful to address those concerns. The interviewers cannot legally inquire if a person has a disability or medical conditions. If you’ll need a wheelchair-friendly desk, a screen reader, a flexible schedule, or any changes to the office layout or supplies, it may make sense to share these with potential employers during the application process. Being specific can be helpful. After all, you may very well know more than employers about what’s required, and the costs involved. Before putting in an application, review the job description carefully to make sure you will be able to do the core responsibilities and to get a sense of any specific accommodations that will help you do your job. 

After the interview 
If you land the job, congratulations! If there are accommodations that are needed it will be easier if your employers are aware. This is a good time to bring it up. For example, if you need daily breaks to administer medication giving your employer a heads-up is more helpful than surprising your new employer on the first day. The above is not legal advice. It is impossible to nail down one right answer to the question about whether to disclose a disability during the application process. Content was compiled from the Job Accommodation Network. You can obtain more information about the ADA and its requirements through the U.S. Equal Employment OpportunityCommission website

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