Low Cost, High Impact Teresa Goddard, M.S., JAN Consultant Burr Corley, MSW, JAN Consultant

1. Low Cost, High Impact • Teresa Goddard, M.S., JAN Consultant • Burr Corley, MSW, JAN Consultant

2. Low Cost, High Impact • Overview • About JAN • Costs and Benefits • Low Cost Accommodation Strategies • Situations & Solutions • Motor • Sensory • Cognitive/Neurological • Questions

3. Low Cost, High Impact • Established in 1983 as a national, free service. • Specialize in job accommodations and the employment provisions of the ADA. • Assist with the interactive process. • Give targeted technical assistance. • Provide comprehensive resources. • Maintain confidentiality. • Communicate via telephone, chat, text, TTY, relay, email, and social networks. • Offer live and archived training. • Work as your partner.

4. Low Cost, High Impact • Employer Follow-up Study • 1,182 employers interviewed between January, 2004, and December, 2006 • 603 employers interviewed between June 28, 2008, and July 31, 2012 Total of 1,905 Employers

5. Low Cost, High Impact • Results • Over half of accommodations (57%) were made at no cost. • Of the 37% who experienced a one-time cost to make an accommodation, the typical cost of accommodating an employee was $500. • Only 24 (4%) said the accommodation resulted in an ongoing, annual cost to the company and 9 (2%) said the accommodation required a combination of one-time and annual costs.

6. Low Cost, High Impact • Results • Of those responding, 76% reported the accommodations were either very effective or extremely effective.

7. Low Cost, High Impact • The study results consistently showed that the benefits employers receive from making workplace accommodations far outweigh the low cost.

8. Low Cost, High Impact • Low Cost Accommodation Strategies • Exploring low to no cost options • Modified Schedules/Flexible Leave • Modified Policies • Job Restructuring • Making use of existing resources • Know what equipment is already on hand • Train on use of accessibility features of existing technology • Utilize available software licenses • Providing and purchasing affordably • Use resources such as JAN, CAP, and AT Projects • Determine what features are really needed in a product • Explore tax incentives

9. Low Cost, High Impact • What should you do while exploring options? • Brainstorm • Think outside the box • Talk with the employee • Use available resources

10. Low Cost, High Impact • What should you consider when choosing? • Employee’s preference • Business needs

11. Low Cost, High Impact • A few words about leave and reassignment • Remember to consider whether other accommodations might be effective and feasible. • Leave may be less effective than other options, especially if the person could continue working with a different accommodation. • Reassignment is intended to be an accommodation of last resort.

12. Low Cost, High Impact • Is the chosen accommodation effective? • How can we monitor effectiveness? • Who will follow up with the employee? • Does the employee have a point of contact to report problems with the accommodation? • Additional Points to Consider

13. Low Cost, High Impact Let’s look at an example. An inventory clerk in a manufacturing plant was having difficulty meeting the physical demands of his job because of arthritis.

14. Low Cost, High Impact • Possible Accommodations • Use Existing Equipment • Team Lifting/Job Restructuring • Purchase Equipment • Reassignment

15. Low Cost, High Impact What really happened? The employer restructured the employee’s job, giving him more office work and requiring less walking around to do inventory.

16. Low Cost, High Impact Cost: $0 Benefit: Kept an experienced employee productive and made everyone happy.

17. Low Cost, High Impact • Accommodation Solutions

18. Low Cost, High Impact • Motor Impairments • Conditions can include: • Arthritis • Back Conditions • Cerebral Palsy • Cumulative Trauma Disorders • Carpal Tunnel • Rotator Cuff • Tendonitis • Paraplegia • Autoimmune and Organ System Disorders

19. Low Cost, High Impact JAN Study Example Employee of a hospital who has fibromyalgia needs to use a scooter to access the worksite.

20. Low Cost, High Impact Accommodation: Employer provided an area where the employee’s motorized scooter could be locked up and kept secure

21. Low Cost, High Impact Cost: $0 Benefit: Gave employee the result and the accommodation she wanted and needed. Employer was able to retain a valuable employee and show that they are compassionate and reasonable.

22. Low Cost, High Impact • JAN Study Example • A state employee had tendonitis and was having • difficulty using his computer.

23. Low Cost, High Impact • Accommodation: • The employer purchased a wrist rest.

24. Low Cost, High Impact • Cost:$25 • Benefit: Increased the employee’s comfort and increased productivity.

25. Low Cost, High Impact JAN Study Example A customer service representative with a circulatory condition needed to move her legs periodically, but the job required employees to stay at their desks unless they were on scheduled breaks. Their productivity was measured by the number of calls completed.

26. Low Cost, High Impact Accommodation: The employer purchased an under-the-desk exercise pedal device that enabled the employee to exercise her legs while on the phone.

27. Low Cost, High Impact Cost: $40 Benefit: Enabled the employee to meet production standards and take care of her health at the same time.

28. Low Cost, High Impact JAN Study Example A laboratory technician was having difficulty at work due to an intestinal condition

29. Low Cost, High Impact Accommodation: The employer reassigned her to a clerical positions that did no require her to be at her desk at certain times

30. Low Cost, High Impact Cost: $0 Benefit: The employer reports that the accommodation was effective.

31. Low Cost, High Impact • Sensory Impairments • Conditions can include: • Hearing Impairment • Deafness • Hard of Hearing • Vision Impairment • Low Vision • No Vision • Color Vision Deficiency • Deafblind • Speech Impairment

32. Low Cost, High Impact JAN Study Example A nurse with a hearing impairment worked the night shift and had to talk to doctors who called for information. She was having difficulty hearing over the telephone. The employee asked to be moved to a dayshift where there would be other nurses who could talk to the doctors but there were not any openings on the dayshift.

33. Low Cost, High Impact Accommodation: The employer purchased a telephone amplifier, which enabled the nurse to hear effectively over the telephone.

34. Low Cost, High Impact Cost: $50 Benefit: Helped serve patients better.

35. Low Cost, High Impact JAN Study Example A legal secretary was having difficulty using her computer effectively because of dry eye syndrome.

36. Low Cost, High Impact Accommodation: The employer provided an air purifier and antiglare filter for the employee’s monitor.

37. Low Cost, High Impact Cost: $89 (employee reported) Benefit: An accommodation was made. Time will tell if it is effective or not. The accommodation had only been in place for a short time when follow data was collected.

38. Low Cost, High Impact JAN Study Example An office worker for federal employer was having difficulty hearing the telephone ring and communicating on the telephone.

39. Low Cost, High Impact Accommodation: The employer provided a headset and strobe light for the employee's workstation.

40. Low Cost, High Impact Cost: $100 Benefit: The employer reported that as a result of providing this accommodation, the employee is now able to function to their maximum potential.

41. Low Cost, High Impact • Other Chronic and Systemic Impairments • Conditions can include: • Infectious Disease • Blood Disorders • Endocrine Conditions • Diabetes • Hypoglycemia • Respiratory Impairment • Asthma • Allergies • Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

42. Low Cost, High Impact JAN Study Example An office employee has a problem with fragrance sensitivity and had asked the employer for an accommodation.

43. Low Cost, High Impact Accommodation: Employer sent memo telling people to be aware of how much fragrance they wear.

44. Low Cost, High Impact Cost: $0 Benefit: The employer reports that the accommodation was effective. The employer reports that by doing this accommodation they were able to maintain a good outstanding employee.

45. Low Cost, High Impact JAN Study Example A manager at the corrections facility had difficulty keeping appointments. He sometimes had to cancel appointments due to limitations arising from diabetes.

46. Low Cost, High Impact Accommodation: The employer provided the manager with a set schedule instead of an on-call schedule.

47. Low Cost, High Impact Cost: $0 (employee reported) Benefit: Following implementation of a set schedule, the manager was able to make appointments and not cancel as often.

48. Low Cost, High Impact • Cognitive/Neurological Impairments • Conditions can include: • Autism • Epilepsy • Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) • Learning Disabilities • Dyslexia, Specific Learning Disability, Auditory or Visual Perceptual Deficit, etc. • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) • Sleep Disorder

49. Low Cost, High Impact JAN Study Example A graphic designer with a sleep disorder was falling asleep at his desk, which was disruptive to his coworkers.

50. Low Cost, High Impact Accommodation: His employer modified the break room and provided a place for him to take periodic naps away from coworkers.