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What Are Some Accommodations That Must Be Made Under the ADA?

The original Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 has since undergone revisions that took effect on January 1, 2009. The changes clarify that only an individual with a documented record of an actual disability qualifies for reasonable accommodations, according to the Job Accommodations Network (JAN). Although the definition of "disability" did not change, the interpretation of the term broadened to accommodate more people with visual, learning, hearing or physical disabilities and other medical conditions that affect major life activities.

  1. Visual Impairments

    • In the workplace and in school, a person with a substantial visual impairment needs electronic access to all documents and computer software that reads the screen aloud. While a blind person may need Braille signs and materials, a low-vision person may require enlarged print or large monitors, according to the international DO-IT Center (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking and Technology), located at the University of Washington. However, items of a personal nature or ordinary eyeglasses and contacts do not constitute reasonable accommodations, according to JAN.

    Learning Disabilities

    • A person with a documented learning disability will require accommodations that compensate for impaired processing abilities, according to DO-IT. A computer with speech output can read documents aloud, assisting someone with dyslexia, a reading disability. In the classroom, those with auditory processing problems require note takers and audiotapes of class lectures. Most people with learning disabilities need access to spell/grammar check devices and additional time to process information.

    Hearing Impairments

    • To accommodate a person with a substantial hearing impairment, employers or instructors must provide reasonable accommodations. These may include use of an FM system, an interpreter, closed-captioned videos and other visual aids, according to DO-IT. A Ubiduo, a face-to-face communication device, allows users to type messages to each other without the presence of an interpreter.

    Physical Disabilities

    • A person with a physical disability may require accommodations to compensate for problems related to missing or malfunctioning limbs and neurological problems. Required accommodations may include special input devices, including specialized keyboards and speech recognition input, according to DO-IT. Desks that adjust to wheelchair height, accessible washrooms and workrooms will be needed. To refuse an accommodation, employers will need to prove "undue hardship," according to JAN.

    Other Medical Conditions

    • The new ADA revisions have expanded to include "bodily functions" that impair major life activities, according to JAN. For example, an insulin-dependent diabetic might require reasonable accommodations, such as time to recover from an insulin reaction. Similarly, someone with Crohn's Disease (an inflammatory bowel condition) should be accommodated, even if flareups appear to be in remission. As in all accommodation issues, an individual with a disability must be "otherwise qualified" to qualify as a student or employee, and an employer or school has the right to choose among effective accommodation choices.

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