Examples of workplace accommodation

If you have a work-related disability in Texas that affects how you are able to perform your job, there are certain requirements your employer must follow to help you get back to work. Employers must provide accommodations for physical and mental disabilities as long as they do not cause undue hardship on the company.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the Americans with Disabilities Act defines accommodation as a modification to the position, work environment or hiring process to allow someone with a disability equal opportunities to both get a job and successfully perform that job. An employer must make the necessary modifications as long as they do not majorly impact the company’s productivity level or profit. The changes can include physical changes, communication devices, assistive technologies and policy modification. Examples of these may include:

• Adding a wheelchair ramp to the entrance of the building
• Modifying the work desk to be more ergonomically friendly
• Providing interpreters or readers
• Using videophones
• Changing the policy manual to allow service animals

HealthyPlace discusses that accommodations can also help those with mental health issues such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD symptoms can vary according to each worker’s situation, although common ones include anxiety, fatigue, poor concentration, high stress levels and memory loss. Accommodations should help lessen the intensity of what an employee experiences. Examples of accommodation for mental issues may include:

• Devices that help cancel noise
• Consistent or flexible scheduling
• Tools to help improve organization
• Assistance animals
• Changing lighting at work station
• Music
• Written instructions
• Reducing job functions that are not essential