Guide for Job Seekers & Workers with a Disability: Your Rights When Looking for a Job and Getting Reasonable Accommodation Under the ADA was originally published on MoneyGeek by William D. Goren. Please click here to read the article in full.
In an article from MoneyGeek, William D. Goren provides a brief overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act and reasonable accommodations for employees:
“When anyone mentions the “ADA” in the context of disabled worker’s rights, they are speaking of The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which prohibits the discrimination of persons with disabilities seeking employment while ensuring they have equal opportunity.
The ADA was created based on the basic principle that “physical or mental disabilities in no way diminish a person’s right to fully participate in all aspects of society,” with the goal of providing a “clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities.”
Although the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is long and cumbersome to read in its entirety, its main components can be summarized as follows:
What is Reasonable Accommodation?
Reasonable accommodation is an upgrade or exception an employer makes in order to help a worker with a disability feel more comfortable or perform better on the job. This can include making existing facilities accessible and usable by persons with disabilities, modifying work schedules to accommodate special requests, or acquiring and modifying equipment, materials, and policies to aid the employment of a worker with a disability….
Finding a Job When You’re Disabled
For a person with a disability, looking for employment can be an especially stressful event. Not only must you navigate the same job search problems as everyone else, but you have the added worry that your disability will keep you from getting the job you want.
However, some employers have proven to be exceptionally accommodating to individuals with disabilities, and there are even job fairs that highlight these opportunities. Many employers understand that, with reasonable accommodation, most individuals with disabilities can excel in their careers…..”
Be sure to also check out the Job Accommodation Network for consultation on job accommodations and expert resources about the Americans with Disabilities Act.
