ACCESS Rochester
Workplace Accommodations:
Ergonomic Devices, Job Restructuring, Modifying Work Sites
Ergonomic Devices
Ergonomic Assessments, workstation adaptations and adaptive equipment, based on approved recommendations from Risk Management and Environmental Health, may include: ergonomic chairs, armrests, adaptive keyboards, and adjustable desks.
| Patty Guagliardo, Risk Management and Environmental Safety |
275-3241 |
| Linda Fisher, Chief Occupational Therapist, Strong Hospital | 275-4514 |
| Purchasing Services | 275-2002 |
Job Restructuring
Job restructuring does not alter the essential functions of a job, but may entail reassigning nonessential or marginal functions of the job. According to A Technical Assistance Manual on the Employment Provisions (Title I) of the Americans With Disabilities Act, an employer is not required to reallocate essential functions as a reasonable accommodation. By definition, essential functions are those functions that a qualified individual must perform, with or without an accommodation.
Sometimes job restructuring can be accomplished by altering the method of accomplishing a task. Keep in mind that although an employer is not required to reallocate essential job functions, it may be a reasonable accommodation to modify the essential functions of a job by changing when or how they are done. For example, an essential function that is usually performed in the early morning might be rescheduled to be performed a little later in the day, when an individual has a disability that makes it impossible to perform this function in the morning and it does not cause an undue hardship. Or, for example, a person with a learning disability who can perform the essential job duties but has difficulty remembering the order in which to do the tasks might be provided with a list to check off as each task is accomplished.
Many different accommodations may be effective in particular situations. Examples include reassigning to a different position, eliminating transportation barriers, and adjusting and modifying training material.
Modifying Work Sites
Typical modifications include adjusting desk height to accommodate persons using wheelchairs; rearranging files or shelves; adding Braille labels; adapting equipment controls for hand or foot operation; installing touch-tone telephones or amplification devices; and installing holding devices on desks, machines or benches.
Introduction and Disabling Conditions
Individual and Supervisory Responsibilities
