1. How can the physical environment of the workplace be changed so that the worker will be able to perform his/her job duties?
  2. Can the job duties be restructured so that the worker can perform the duties that are easier for them?
  3. What assistive devices could be used that will help the individual perform his/her job duties?17
Summary

Accommodations are important because they can give individuals with learning disabilities the opportunity to compete on a more level playing field with their non-disabled peers. However, when requesting job accommodations, there are certain factors that need to be considered including:

  • specific job duties
  • specific disability and area of difficulty
  • specific tasks that are difficult to perform
  • the layout of the workplace -- visual or auditory distractions


Resources for Practitioners

AlderCentre

The ALDERCentre is located in Toronto and offers assertiveness training through self-advocacy. Counsellors work with clients to develop competency statements that focus on individual strengths and weaknesses. Clients' understanding of how their learning disabilities affect them in the workplace and what tools are needed to assist them could lead to greater success in the mainstream workplace. If needed, a job coach can be arranged to act as a liaison between the client and the employer to arrange accommodations ranging from simple modifications (e.g., seating within the workplace, instruction on tape, typed assignments and time allocation to complete tasks) to more complex modifications such as adaptive devices like Dragon, WIN and Kurzweil.


17 Retrieved from: http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/LD.html Job Accommodation Network