REQUESTING WORKPLACE ACCOMMODATIONS # 1203 
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REQUESTING WORKPLACE ACCOMMODATIONS # 1203
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Requesting Workplace Accommodations
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| In 1990 the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed. The ADA requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation in the workplace to qualified employees and applicants with disabilities, unless such accommodations would pose an undue hardship (e.g. too costly, too extensive, too substantial, too disruptive). Generally, the applicant or employee with a disability is responsible for letting the employer know that an accommodation is needed to participate in the application process, to perform essential job functions, or to receive equal benefits and privileges of employment. Employers are not required to provide accommodations if they are not aware of the need.
Although an accommodation request does not have to be in writing, if you are an individual with a disability you might find it useful to document accommodation requests just in case there is a dispute about whether or when the requested accommodation was made. A request in writing is a good way to document this. There are not specific guidelines or forms to be completed when requesting accommodations. Some employers have developed forms of their own. If so, you should use the employer's forms when available. Otherwise, you may use any method that is effective to request an accommodation. If you plan to write a letter to request accommodations from your employer, please be sure to include the following information: • identify yourself as a person with a disability
For a sample accommodation request letter go to http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/accommrequestltr.html. |
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