3 Ways to Accommodate Employees with Disabilities

Persons living with disabilities are protected under the employment law which allows them to be employed irrespective of their disability. Under the employment law, persons qualified for jobs are not to be exempted based on their disability. However, several working environments are still found struggling with how best to accommodate an employee with a disability.

It is a known fact that choosing the right candidate for a job can be challenging, however, the challenges are increased when the potential employee is living with a disability. Passing a qualified potential candidate based on their disability is both prohibited and unethical under the Americans with Disability Act thereby making the subject of inclusion and accommodation of disabled persons in the workplace a quizzical one.

Employing a person living with disability will bring about certain changes as there will be the need to increase the workspace and also make provision for certain features to help such employee settle down better in the workspace.

Should you be in a situation where you recently hired a person living with disability, here are some certain changes to make to your office space to better accommodate them.

1. Adjusting the Computer

Assistive technology in the workplace is a very good way to keep a person living with disability integrated in the workplace. When creating a more accessible environment for your new hire, you may need to purchase software and tools which would better aid them in settling down in the workspace or in other cases, this can be done by merely adjusting the computer’s control settings. A visually impaired person may be assisted with the provision of a braille keyboard or a screen reader while for the hearing impaired, the computer’s controls may be set to replace sound with texts or visuals.

2. Selecting the Right Furniture

The new hire may need a workspace modification which may include but is not limited to modification of the furniture to better allow better working environment and productivity. The office furniture may be adjusted to fit the adequate office monitor height, desk position, or chair orientation.

A person with a wheelchair may not necessarily need an office chair, however, modifications may be needed to better adjust their furniture to fit the height of the wheelchair.

3. Make the Work Area Inclusive for All Workers

Areas in the office such as the office or cubicle may need to be changed or modified to better suit the disabled worker. It is best to consider the accessibility of the disabled person to all features of the office space before making the hire or modification.

Where to Start When Accommodating an Employee with Disabilities

As an employer, unless in cases of undue hardship, you have a duty to accommodate a qualified person with disabilities. Accommodating such a person however comes with some changes in other to make the office space more accessible and resourceful for the latest hire. It is important to note that office modifications for persons living with disability will better aid in increasing productivity.

In preparing for your disabled employee’s first day at the office, it is important for the employer to start by researching accessibility tools and adjustments. Additionally, purchase of all necessary tools which will better increase productivity should be given proper and adequate attention. When choosing a new hire and throughout the training and startup process, be sure to follow legal guidelines for employment in the UK to ensure that you are not violating any laws by turning down an applicant due to their disability alone. And as always, make sure that whomever you hire is the best fit for the job. Unsure of where you stand when it comes to employer vs employee rights? Visit http://www.hibberts.com/employment-law-services/ to learn more about UK employment laws.