Low Cost, High Impact Teresa Goddard, M.S., JAN Consultant Burr Corley, MSW, JAN Consultant

JAN is a service of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy.

Low Cost, High Impact

Teresa Goddard, M.S., JAN ConsultantBurr Corley, MSW, JAN Consultant

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Overview About JAN Costs and Benefits Low Cost Accommodation

Strategies Situations & Solutions

Motor Sensory Cognitive/Neurological

Questions

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Established in 1983 as a national, free service. Specialize in job accommodations and the

employment provisions of the ADA. Assist with the interactive process. Give targeted technical assistance. Provide comprehensive resources. Maintain confidentiality. Communicate via telephone, chat, text, TTY, relay,

email, and social networks. Offer live and archived training. Work as your partner.

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Employer Follow-up Study 1,182 employers interviewed between January, 2004,

and December, 2006 603 employers interviewed between June 28, 2008,

and July 31, 2012Total of 1,905 Employers

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Results Over half of accommodations (57%) were made

at no cost. Of the 37% who experienced a one-time cost to

make an accommodation, the typical cost of accommodating an employee was $500.

Only 24 (4%) said the accommodation resulted in an ongoing, annual cost to the company and 9 (2%) said the accommodation required a combination of one-time and annual costs.

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Results Of those responding, 76% reported the

accommodations were either very effective or extremely effective.

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The study results consistently showed that the benefits employers receive from

making workplace accommodations far outweigh the low cost.

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Low Cost Accommodation Strategies Exploring low to no cost options

Modified Schedules/Flexible Leave Modified Policies Job Restructuring

Making use of existing resources Know what equipment is already on hand Train on use of accessibility features of existing technology Utilize available software licenses

Providing and purchasing affordably Use resources such as JAN, CAP, and AT Projects Determine what features are really needed in a product Explore tax incentives

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What should you do while exploring options?

Brainstorm Think outside the box Talk with the employee Use available resources

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What should you consider when choosing? Employee’s preference Business needs

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A few words about leave and reassignment Remember to consider whether other

accommodations might be effective and feasible.

Leave may be less effective than other options, especially if the person could continue working with a different accommodation.

Reassignment is intended to be an accommodation of last resort.

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Additional Points to Consider Is the chosen accommodation

effective? How can we monitor

effectiveness? Who will follow up with the

employee? Does the employee have a

point of contact to report problems with the accommodation?

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Let’s look at an example.An inventory clerk in a manufacturing plant was having difficulty meeting the physical demands of his job because of arthritis.

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Possible Accommodations Use Existing Equipment Team Lifting/Job Restructuring Purchase Equipment Reassignment

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What really happened? The employer restructured the employee’s job, giving him more office work and requiring less walking around to do inventory.

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Cost: $0

Benefit: Kept an experienced employee productive and made everyone happy.

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Accommodation Solutions

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Motor ImpairmentsConditions can include: Arthritis Back Conditions Cerebral Palsy Cumulative Trauma Disorders

Carpal Tunnel Rotator Cuff Tendonitis

Paraplegia Autoimmune and Organ System Disorders

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JAN Study ExampleEmployee of a hospital who has fibromyalgia needs to use a scooter to access the worksite.

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Accommodation: Employer provided an area where the employee’s motorized scooter could be locked up and kept secure

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Cost: $0

Benefit: Gave employee the result and the accommodation she wanted and needed. Employer was able to retain a valuable employee and show that they are compassionate and reasonable.

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JAN Study ExampleA state employee had tendonitis and was havingdifficulty using his computer.

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Accommodation: The employer purchased a wrist rest.

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Cost: $25

Benefit: Increased the employee’s comfort and increased productivity.

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JAN Study ExampleA customer service representative with a circulatory condition needed to move her legs periodically, but the job required employeesto stay at their desks unlessthey were on scheduled breaks.Their productivity was measured by the number of calls completed.

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Accommodation: The employer purchased an under-the-desk exercise pedal device that enabled the employee to exercise her legs while on the phone.

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Cost: $40

Benefit: Enabled the employee to meet production standards and take care of her health at the same time.

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JAN Study ExampleA laboratory technician was having difficulty at work due to an intestinal condition

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Accommodation: The employer reassigned her to a clerical positions that did no require her to be at her desk at certain times

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Cost: $0

Benefit: The employer reports that the accommodation was effective.

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Sensory ImpairmentsConditions can include: Hearing Impairment

Deafness Hard of Hearing

Vision Impairment Low Vision No Vision Color Vision Deficiency

Deafblind Speech Impairment

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JAN Study ExampleA nurse with a hearing impairment worked the night shift and had to talk to doctors who called for information. She was having difficulty hearing over the telephone. The employee asked to be moved to a dayshift where there would be other nurses who could talk to the doctors but there were not any openings on the dayshift.

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Accommodation: The employer purchased a telephone amplifier, which enabled the nurse to hear effectively over the telephone.

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Cost: $50

Benefit: Helped serve patients better.

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JAN Study ExampleA legal secretary was having difficulty using her computer effectively because of dry eye syndrome.

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Accommodation: The employer provided an air purifier and antiglare filter for the employee’s monitor.

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Cost: $89 (employee reported)

Benefit: An accommodation was made. Time will tell if it is effective or not. The accommodation had only been in place for a short time when follow data was collected.

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JAN Study ExampleAn office worker for federal employer was having difficulty hearing the telephone ring and communicating on the telephone.

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Accommodation: The employer provided a headset and strobe light for the employee's workstation.

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Cost: $100

Benefit: The employer reported that as a result of providing this accommodation, the employee is now able to function to their maximum potential.

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Other Chronic and Systemic ImpairmentsConditions can include: Infectious Disease Blood Disorders Endocrine Conditions

Diabetes Hypoglycemia

Respiratory Impairment Asthma Allergies Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

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JAN Study ExampleAn office employee has a problem with fragrance sensitivity and had asked the employer for an accommodation.

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Accommodation: Employer sent memo telling people to be aware of how much fragrance they wear.

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Cost: $0

Benefit: The employer reports that the accommodation was effective. The employer reports that by doing this accommodation they were able to maintain a good outstanding employee.

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JAN Study ExampleA manager at the corrections facility had difficulty keeping appointments. He sometimes had to cancel appointments due to limitations arising from diabetes.

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Accommodation: The employer provided the manager with a set schedule instead of an on-call schedule.

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Cost: $0 (employee reported)

Benefit: Following implementation of a set schedule, the manager was able to make appointments and not cancel as often.

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Cognitive/Neurological ImpairmentsConditions can include: Autism Epilepsy Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) Learning Disabilities

Dyslexia, Specific Learning Disability, Auditory or Visual Perceptual Deficit, etc.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Sleep Disorder

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JAN Study ExampleA graphic designer with a sleep disorder was falling asleep at his desk, which was disruptive to his coworkers.

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Accommodation: His employer modified the break room and provided a place for him to take periodic naps away from coworkers.

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Cost: $100

Benefit: The employee was happy and no longer slept at his desk. Coworkers were no longer disrupted.

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JAN Study ExampleAn employee with autism spectrum disorder had difficulty turning in paperwork on time.

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Accommodation: His employer began providing reminders as to when paperwork is due.

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Cost: $0

Benefit: The employee is now turning paperwork in on time and the employer reports that there is less hassle and less paperwork on their end as well. The employer did report that the accommodation had been, "a learning process."

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JAN Study ExampleA secretary was having difficulty completing and performing job tasks due to symptoms of ADHD.

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Accommodation: Employer discussed organizing the employee's work - giving her better structure, redefining procedures and duties. Practical and easy tools to manage ADD, such as color file folders and flow charts.

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Cost: $0

Benefit: Employer was able to accommodate the employee to be able to perform the essential functions of their job.

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Mental Health ImpairmentsConditions can include: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Depression Anxiety Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Bipolar Disorder Alcoholism and Addiction

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JAN Study ExampleAn employee at a college had Bipolar Disorder. He needed to attend doctor’s appointments and had difficulty scheduling these appointments outside of working hours.

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Accommodation: His employer temporarily modified his work schedule so that he could attend doctor’s appointments.

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Cost: $0

Benefit: The employee was able to seek medical treatment.

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JAN Study ExampleEmployee with alcoholism needed reasonable accommodations related to scheduling.

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Accommodation: The employee’s schedule was changed to flex time.

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Cost: $0

Benefit: The employee was able to keep their job and the employer was able to retain an employee who had many certifications to do the job. The employer reported savings rather than costs.

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Finding Accommodation Solutions Ask the person for his/her ideas Call JAN Check Out the JAN Website

A-Z of Disabilities SOAR

Contact Local and State Resources State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies State AT Projects

For Federal Employers CAP

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Contact (800)526-7234 (V) & (877)781-9403 (TTY) AskJAN.org & [email protected]

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Low Cost, High Impact Teresa Goddard, M.S., JAN Consultant Burr Corley, MSW, JAN Consultant

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Transcript of Low Cost, High Impact Teresa Goddard, M.S., JAN Consultant Burr Corley, MSW, JAN Consultant