INTRODUCTION
The following "Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) & Reasonable Accommodations" online module is designed to assist public and private employers to increase the diversity of its workforce to include people with disabilities, an untapped business resource. As a starting point, this module provides some general information regarding the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and its employment requirements related to providing job supports and accommodations. The module concludes by addressing the need for universally designed work environments that support increased productivity and diversity among ALL employees, regardless of disability.
Why This Topic Matters:
As the number of workers in the "traditional" labor force shrinks it is important that employers open their doors to qualified workers from nontraditional sources. Individuals with disabilities are an underutilized workforce who can assist employers to meet their current and future labor needs. Many employers believe they will need to provide expensive supports and accommodations if they hire individuals with disabilities. In reality, all employees need a work environment that accommodates their unique working styles and preferences, and the support needs of workers with disabilities are no different. The information in this module addresses some of the misconceptions that create employment barriers for people with disabilities and offers concrete strategies for providing useful job supports and accommodations that benefit both employers and ALL employees.
What You Will Learn:
At the conclusion of this module you will be able:
- To understand the purpose of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its employment provisions;
- To understand the concept of reasonable accommodation and identify when a reasonable accommodation might be necessary in the workplace; and
- To understand the concept of "universally designed work environment" and how this type of environment will benefit ALL employees.
How This Module Is Organized:
This module is organized into 4 lessons. Each lesson will start with an overview and some initial thoughts designed to stimulate your thinking in each topic area. Next, we present a number of "key concepts" related to the lesson topics. Finally, each lesson concludes with a wrap-up summary. At the conclusion of this module you will have the opportunity to "check your learning" related to learning objectives and content. You will also be able to access an employer Internet based resource guide that includes resources related to the material in this module.
Overview Of Lessons:
The following lessons are contained within this module:
- Lesson #1 - An Introduction to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Provides an overview of the ADA generally and challenges common misconceptions and myths associated with the ADA.
- Lesson #2 - Title I of the ADA- Employment Provisions: Explores the key principles of Title I such as disclosure, essential functions and an introduction to reasonable accommodations.
- Lesson #3 - Providing Reasonable Job Accommodations: Discusses the key principles related to providing reasonable job accommodations and provides a framework for "thinking through" and applying these principles in the workplace.
- Lesson #4 - Beyond the ADA: Creating Universally Designed Work Environments: Provides an overview of the concept of universal design in the workplace and how, when applied, can create a work environment that is more accommodating for ALL employees.
Meet Paul!
Hello! My name is Paul. I will join you at various times as you complete this module to share a few of my personal thoughts regarding this important issue. Click on the video below to hear my initial remarks. I hope you enjoy your time and learning!
Content ©2008. All Rights Reserved.
This training was made possible through a grant from the Missouri Planning Council for Developmental Disabilities (www.mpcdd.com) and developed by the University of Missouri-Kansas City Institute for Human Development (www.ihd.umkc.edu)