Each year, the TASH Conference strengthens the disability field by connecting attendees to innovative information and resources, facilitating connections between stakeholders within the disability movement, and helping attendees reignite their passion for an inclusive world. This year’s conference theme, “Gateway to Equity,” explores inclusive communities, schools, and workplaces that support people with disabilities, including those with complex support needs, in living a fair, just, and balanced life. Return to TASH website.
The availability of and entitlement to reasonable accommodations in the workplace opens up a world of integrated employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The accommodation process, as prescribed by the Americans with Disabilities Act and its various state counterparts, focuses on meeting the individualized needs of workers with disabilities through employer-employee communication and creative collaboration. However, because the process of requesting and receiving accommodations is tailored to each individual and reliant on employer-employee communication, many applicants and employees with disabilities are uncertain or anxious about engaging their employer in this process. This session will provide information for advocates and self-advocates regarding how reasonable accommodations can create and enhance employment opportunities for people with disabilities, as well as best practices for requesting and obtaining accommodations. After attending this session, attendees will be able to: * self-advocate (or advocate on behalf of a worker or applicant with disabilities) by understanding federal disability laws, including the ADA, that provide reasonable accommodation entitlements, and by knowing what to do if their rights under those laws are violated * understand the variety of accommodations available to workers with disabilities, and use resources like the Job Accommodation Network to help determine what type of accommodations might be appropriate for an individual's specific situation and needs *understand best practices regarding whether, when, and how to initiate a request for reasonable accommodations in the workplace and how to ensure the success of the reasonable accommodation process
