Module #2

The ADA and Reasonable Accommodations

 

LESSON #2: TITLE I OF THE ADA- EMPLOYMENT PROVISIONS:

Initial Thoughts:

Previously we looked at some common myths related to the ADA in general. There are also a number of common myths associated with the ADA's employment provisions. The following series of quizzes will challenge your thinking about the ADA and how it relates to employment.

ADA and Employment Quiz

Question 1:

 

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates the hiring of individuals with disabilities. True False

Question 2:

   

Sixty-five percent (65%) of working age individuals with disabilities are unemployed. True False

Question 3:

  

Under the ADA, employers must give people with disabilities special privileges, known as accommodations. a. Myth b. Fact

Question 4:

 

Two out of three unemployed people with disabilities would prefer to be working.  True False

Question 5:

 

Employees with disabilities are unable to meet performance standards. True False

Question 6:

  

Employees with disabilities are more likely to have accidents on the job than employees without disabilities. True False

Question 7:

  

Companies report that employees with disabilities have better retention rates, reducing the high cost of turnover. True False

Question 8:

   

Accommodating workers with disabilities is usually inexpensive. a. Myth b. Fact

 (Question 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 were reproduced from Baum, et al., 2004).

 

Now that we have explored some misconceptions about employment and the ADA, let's learn about the specific provisions of ADA's Title I in more detail.  

As we learned in lesson 1, Title I covers the employment provisions in the ADA and it aims to ensure equal access to employment regardless of whether a person has a disability. Title I is about "leveling the playing field" for persons with disabilities, not forcing employers to hire people with disabilities. In the following sections we will look at:

• Who's protected by the law;
• Aspects of employment that are covered; and
• How to understand the law in order to put it into practice as an employer

First we use language from the law itself, then we explain the law's practical application and we end with some examples. There is a link to the entire ADA in the reference section of this Module.

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