Accommodations for a Person with a Disability

The Americans with Disabilities Act mandates businesses and government entities provide reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. The act defines a disability as a physical or mental condition or disorder, which affects a major life activity but does not include personality traits. Major life activities include, but are not limited to, self-care, vision, hearing, standing, breathing and lifting. In short, effective accommodations for people with disabilities provide a means of access and participation.

Employment Accommodations

• Reasonable accommodations for employment means employees with disabilities can participate in the "benefits and privileges" as other employees. A few examples are training, banking services, cafeterias, transportation, social functions and gym membership when sponsored by the employer. Employers must provide reasonable accommodations to facilitate the employee's participation. If the accommodation would cause an undue hardship on the employer, it does not have to provide the accommodation but must prove the hardship. Examples of typical employment-related accommodations include adaptive computer equipment, information in alternative formats, and accessible buildings and workstations.

Housing Accommodations

• People with disabilities have equal rights and opportunities to housing as any other person. Government mandates require government-sponsored housing provide reasonable accommodations to ensure equal opportunity. Individuals requiring accommodations due to a disability must make a request to the housing authority. If the accommodation does not create an undue hardship, an accommodation must be provided. Typical examples of housing-related accommodations include Braille apartment numbers, accessible parking, ramps and the acceptance of third-party payments.

Educational Accommodations

• Students with disabilities have equal rights to educational opportunities at all levels. Local school boards provide individualized education to students age 3 to 21 years unless the student graduates sooner. Local school boards must provide almost any accommodation required to allow the child to benefit from his or her education. In addition to ADA, the Individuals with Disabilities Educational Act also governs elementary and high schools. Colleges and universities provide reasonable accommodations for enrolled students and applicants. Living facilities at educational institutions must be accessible. Typical accommodations for education are modified work in grades preK-12, alternative assignment and lecture formats, adapted computers, modification to policies, accessible buildings and classrooms.

Public Transportation Accommodations

• People with disabilities have equal access to public transportation. Public buses, vans, and school buses must meet specifications to accommodate people with mobility considerations. City governments provide para-transit services to people who require wheelchairs for mobility. Newly constructed sidewalks must have curb cuts at the corners to allow a person in a wheelchair to cross the street. Typical accommodations for public transportation include wheelchair lifts or ramps, wide doors, low thresholds and handrails.