Reasonable Accommodation Process Resources & Tools
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires reasonable accommodation in three aspects of employment: 1) to ensure equal opportunity in the application process, 2) to enable a qualified individual with a disability to perform the essential functions of a job, and 3) to enable an employee with a disability to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment.
Disability accommodations required under the ADA include a broad array of adjustments, ranging from alterations to a workspace to the ability to work from home to time away from work.
Quickly identifying accommodation needs and meeting them successfully is an important component of every employer’s compliant absence management program. To help employers tackle what can sometimes be a daunting process, this resource page provides information about useful policies and procedures, how to recognize and handle accommodation requests, how to determine effective accommodations, and what types of accommodations might be reasonable.
DMECommunities Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Group
DMECommunities, our online networking groups, provide members with a welcoming and professional environment where they can directly connect with industry peers, ask/answer questions, share resources, seek feedback, and obtain absence and disability management information. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Group is your destination for everything ADA — from the interactive process, to effective accommodations, and much more!
ADA Accommodation Process Microcredential Course
The ADA Accommodation Process Microcredential Course is an interactive, self-paced training — featuring real-life scenarios and knowledge checks — focused on how to navigate employee accommodation requests effectively and confidently. The online course, which includes applicable resources and a certificate and digital badge upon completion, covers conducting the interactive process, making accommodations, communication and documentation, and tracking, managing, and monitoring accommodations.
DMEC Webinars
DMEC provides a variety of webinars on topics related to the accommodation process, return to work, stay at work, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) throughout the year. We invite you to watch the recordings from some of our past webinars.
- Webinar Recording: ADA Basics
- Webinar Recording: The ADA Link
- Webinar Recording: The Do’s and Don’ts of Defensible Documentation
- Webinar Recording: ADA – To Outsource or To Not? That is the Question!
DMEC @Work Magazine
Each year in @Work magazine, we highlight programs, tools, and resources employers can use to manage the reasonable accommodation process. Check out the issues, articles and columns below.
- Feature articles:
- Cost Savings Built in Los Angeles: An Effective ADA Disability Compliance Program
- ADA Documentation: Implement Best Practices and Avoid Mistakes
- Is Intermittent Leave a Reasonable Accommodation?
- ADA Leave Compliance: Are You Sure Your House Is In Order?
- The ADA Is Your Organization’s Integration Driver and Partner
- Spotlight articles:
- Compliance Showcase: ADA Documentation
- Compliance Showcase: Mental Health Accommodations
- Program Showcase: ADA Accommodation Tools
- Compliance Showcase: ADA Interactive Process
- RTW Programs: Integrating Accommodation
- Compliance Makeover: Pregnancy Accommodations
- RTW Case Study: Accommodation Strategies
- Compliance Makeover: ADA Psychological Accommodations
- Program Showcase: Job Analysis Tool Supports Accommodation
- Columns:
- COVID-19: Engaging in the Interactive Process with Employees at Higher Risk
- How Accommodations Add Value to the Workplace
- Managing ADA Reasonable Accommodation Requests in the Face of COVID-19
- What Can a Bus Driver Teach Employers About Undue Hardship under the ADA?
- Employing Technology in Your ADA Process Just Became More Crucial
- Moving the Needle: Integrating ADA/ADAAA Accommodation & Career Mobility
- Navigating Multi-Site Challenges with Consistent ADAAA Practices
- Unreasonable Accommodations: Can I Send the Employee to a Doctor of My Choice?
- Avoid Penny Wise and Pound Foolish Accommodation Decisions
- Employers Can Leverage Clinicians to Support their ADA Compliance Efforts
- ADA Accommodations for Mental Health
- Accommodations Best Practices column:
- Ask the Accommodation Experts column:
- Job Reassignment Strategies
- How to Re-set Employee Expectations When Healthcare Providers Step Outside Their Role
- Assessing Work-at-Home Requests and Potential “Undue Hardship” on the Employer
- Managing Leaves When Employees Have Unpredictable Health Conditions
- The Downside of Overly Generous Accommodations
- How to Minimize Leave as an Accommodation
DMEC Sample Templates and Forms
DMEC provides a variety of sample checklists, policies, letters, templates, guides, and more to help you effectively manage your absence management programs. The samples below are intended to help you with the reasonable accommodation process.
Full content is available to DMEC members only. to view the complete resource.
If you are not a DMEC member, we encourage you to join. DMEC members have access to white papers, case studies, @Work magazine articles, free webinars, legislative updates, and much more. These resources will assist you in building an effective and compliant integrated absence management program, saving you time, resources, and money. Learn more.
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