Workplace Accommodation Information for Employers

This page provides a starting point for employers to learn about and engage in important research on new technologies to maximize independence and participation of employees with disabilities in the workplace.

Research Findings

• Workplace Participation
  Employees with unmet accommodation needs with respect to shared workspaces were less likely to report that their accommodations provided them with an equal opportunity to participate at work.
  Read more about the workplace participation study.
• Retrospective Study of Vocational Rehabilitation Cases
  Among employees who are no longer using their original accommodations, 30% reported that the accommodations were too hard to use. Often, this was related to the individual not being provided with sufficient training. Other reasons for accommodation abandonment included changes to the job (27%), changes in abilities (13%), or technology changes that resulted in equipment incompatibility (10%).
  Read more about the retrospective study.
• Impact of Policy on Access to and Utilization of Workplace Accommodations
  The Work RERC's Policy Delphi on Workplace Accommodations identified 22 policy options for addressing potential barriers for successful workplace accommodations. Read more about the policy Delphi..

Participate in Research

• Successful Aging in the Workplace
  Do you work in an office? Want to share your experiences with using a computer? We are currently distributing an online survey to learn about the difficulties individuals may encounter while using a personal computer at work and about the ways they handle these difficulties in order to complete their job tasks. We are specifically interested in older individuals with disabilities or individuals who have experienced any loss in functioning. The online survey should take 15-30 minutes to complete. Contact for more information about this study.
• LinkedIn Disability Policy Discussion Group
  Researchers from the Work RERC's project on policy initiatives are undertaking research into how collaborative networks and social media can inform policy research and development in the areas of disability and technology. The project has established the Accessible Technology Policy Group (ATPG) on the social networking website LinkedIn. Read more about the policy discussion group.
• Guide the Research
  What research would help your company support employees with disabilities? Tell us via our feedback form.

Employer Resources

• Workplace Accommodation Applications
  Read case studies about successful workplace accommodations. Add your own. Use this resource as a means to share unique accommodation ideas.
• Find product information to help make accommodation decisions
  
  • Assistivetech.net database of assistive technology products
    Search assistivetech.net's database of over 22,000 assistive technology products.
  • ATWiki - Workplace Accommodations
    Browse the ATWiki's collection of articles to learn more about types of workplace accommodations.