JAN is a service of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. 1 Increasing Successful Employment of People with Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities: Examples from the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) Louis Orslene, MSW, MPIA, CPDM JAN Co-Director

 About JAN  ADAAA and Intellectual Disabilities  Accommodation Situations and Solutions  Q & A 2 Agenda

 Free, confidential, national service  TA on Job Accommodations and ADAAA  Coach customers through the interactive process  Give targeted technical assistance About JAN 3

 Provide comprehensive referrals  Maintain confidentiality  Communicate via telephone, chat, text, TTY, relay, , and social networks  Offer live and archived training About JAN 4

 Work as a partner in making model employers  Extensive online services 5 About JAN

Customers Employers Individuals with disabilities Rehabilitation professionals Others 6 About JAN

Teams Sensory Cognitive/Psychiatric Motor ADA Self-employment 7 About JAN

Myth #1 – Accommodations are too expensive.  More than half (57%) were made at no cost  The typical cost of accommodating an employee was $500 Low Cost, High Impact (2014) JAN Study 8 About JAN

Myth #2 - Accommodations aren’t effective  Employers were asked to rank the effectiveness of accommodating a worker on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being extremely effective  Of those responding, 73% reported accommodations were either very effective or extremely effective Low Cost, High Impact (2014) JAN Study 9 About JAN

Employer-Reported Benefits of Accommodation 90% - retaining a valued employee 71% - increase in the employee’s productivity 60% - eliminate costs of a new employee 38% - saving in worker’s comp/other insurance costs Low Cost, High Impact (2014) Resulting from the JAN Study 10 About JAN

ADAAA and Intellectual/Cognitive Disabilities Some impairments are virtually always covered under the ADAAA. An intellectual disability is one of them because of limitations in learning, reading, and thinking. 11 ADAAA and ID

Limitations most often discussed  Cognitive Abilities  Motor Abilities  Social Abilities 12 Situations and Solutions

Limitations in Cognitive Abilities  Reading  Writing  Memory  Performing Calculations  Organization  Time Management/Performing or Completing Tasks 13 Situations and Solutions

Reading - Accommodations Most Often Discussed  Provide pictures, symbols, or diagrams instead of words  Read written information to employee  Provide written information on audiotape  Use voice output on computer  Use line guide to identify or highlight one line of text at a time 14 Situations and Solutions

Situation: A bus garage employee who had difficulty reading, but had excellent listening comprehension skills, often missed instructions and important announcements that were sent via Situations and Solutions

Solution: The employee was provided with screen-reading software that allowed him to listen to the s that he received. His performance greatly improved, as well as his attendance at meetings and gatherings. 16 Situations and Solutions

Writing - Accommodations Most Often Discussed  Provide templates or forms to prompt information requested  Allow verbal response instead of written response  Allow typed response instead of written response  Use voice input on computer  Use spell check on computer  Use a scribe to write the employee’s response  Provide ample space on forms requiring written response 17 Situations and Solutions

Situation: A janitorial employee is unable to write well and document the work she completed. The employer required her to write down the tasks she completed. Her documentation made it appear as if she did nothing during her shift. 18 Situations and Solutions

Solution: The employer accommodated the employee by making a change to the form she used so that she had the same opportunity as others to document the work she completed. Her form included pictures of the tasks that only required her to check off each one as it was completed. 19 Situations and Solutions

Memory - Accommodations Most Often Discussed  Use voice-activated recorder to record verbal instructions  Provide written information  Provide checklists  Prompt employee with verbal cues (reminders)  Post written or pictorial instructions on frequently-used machines 20 Situations and Solutions

Situation: A grocery store stocker was having difficulty remembering what tasks to return to when he was interrupted by customers asking for assistance or when he was called to another task such as cleaning up a spill. 21 Situations and Solutions

Solution: The stocking clerk was given a small voice recorder that he kept in his pocket. When the current task he was engaged in was interrupted, he would record exactly what he was doing and where he was so that he could return to the task. 22 Situations and Solutions

Performing Calculations - Accommodations Most Often Discussed  Allow use of calculator  Large-display calculator  Talking calculator  Use counter or ticker  Make pre-counted or pre-measured poster or jig  Provide talking tape measure  Use liquid level indicators  Mark the measuring cup with a “fill to here” line 23 Situations and Solutions

Situation: A baker’s assistant is unable to count to twelve when filling a baking sheet with cookie dough. 24 Situations and Solutions

Solution: A plastic template that fit the baking sheet was created with twelve holes in which to place the cookie dough. Once the holes are filled, the assistant removed the template and baked twelve cookies each time. 25 Situations and Solutions

Organization - Accommodations Most Often Discussed  Minimize clutter  Color-code items or resources  Provide A-B-C chart  Provide chart  Divide large tasks into multiple smaller tasks  Avoid reorganization of workspace  Label items or resources  Use symbols instead of words  Use print labels instead of handwritten labels 26 Situations and Solutions

Situation: An office worker at an elementary school was responsible for receiving copy orders and providing the completed copies to teachers within two days. He was unable to complete the handwritten orders on time with no organizational system. 27 Situations and Solutions

Solution: The school secretary provided a typed form that required the teachers to supply a uniform amount/type of information, while at the same time setting up daily labeled baskets that the teachers placed their orders and materials in. The baskets allowed the employee to see which orders needed to be done first, allowing the copy orders to be completed in the two-day time frame. 28 Situations and Solutions

Time Management/Performing or Completing Tasks - Accommodations Most Often Discussed  Provide verbal prompts (reminders)  Provide written or symbolic reminders  Use alarm watch or beeper  Use jig for assembly to increase productivity  Arrange materials in order of use  Use task list with numbers or symbols  Avoid isolated workstations  Provide space for job coach  Provide additional training or retraining as needed 29 Situations and Solutions

Situation: A mail clerk had difficulty remembering to go for his second mail collection run when he was involved in other tasks. 30 Situations and Solutions

Solution: The mail clerk was provided with a watch that had a timer set for when he needed to start his run. The watch vibrated to alert him it was time to go. 31 Situations and Solutions

Limitations in Motor Abilities  Using Computer  Using Telephone  Accessing Workspace  Handling or Grasping Objects 32 Situations and Solutions

Using Computer - Accommodations Most Often Discussed  Use key guard  Use alternative input devices  speech recognition  speech output  trackball  joystick  touchscreen 33 Situations and Solutions

Situation: An activities aide in an extended living facility had difficulty writing documentation in the daily log for the groups she assisted. 34 Situations and Solutions

Solution: The aide was provided speech to text software that allowed her to dictate her notes from a computer, print them out, and then place them in the log binder. 35 Situations and Solutions

Using Telephone - Accommodations Most Often Discussed  Use large-button phone  Use phone with universal symbols (fire, police, doctor)  Use phone with speed dial, clearly labeled  Use receiver holder  Use headset 36 Situations and Solutions

Situation: A maintenance worker had difficulty reading commonly called phone numbers from a chart, then dialing the numbers correctly. 37 Situations and Solutions

Solution: The employee was provided a large-button phone that allowed for photos to be inserted in place of the numbers. The phone numbers were programmed in, so the employee only had to press the button with the photo of the person he was calling for the call to go through. 38 Situations and Solutions

Accessing Workspace – Accommodations Most Commonly Discussed  Place anti-fatigue mats at workstation  Use motorized scooter  Use stools at workstations  Move items within reach  Provide frequent rest breaks 39 Situations and Solutions

Situation: A parts sorter in a distribution center had difficulty standing for his shift with only a thirty-minute lunch and short afternoon break. His work became sloppy in the afternoons due to his fatigue. 40 Situations and Solutions

Solution: The employee was provided with a both an anti-fatigue mat to help his back and legs and a stand/lean stool that allowed him the ability to work in an upright position while his weight rested on the padded seat. 41 Situations and Solutions

Handling or Grasping Objects – Accommodations Most Commonly Discussed  Use ergonomic tools, handle build- ups, or other tool adaptations  Use orthopedic writing aids  Use grip aids  Use jig or brace 42 Situations and Solutions

Situation: A production worker had difficulty grasping a plastic bottle to accurately apply an adhesive label. 43 Situations and Solutions

Solution: JAN suggested making a wooden jig, which secured the bottle, thus allowing the employee to use both hands when applying the label. 44 Situations and Solutions

Limitations in Social Abilities  Emotional Support  Interacting with Coworkers  Working Effectively with Supervisors 45 Situations and Solutions

Emotional Support - Accommodations Most Commonly Discussed  Give positive feedback  Use visual performance charts  Provide tangible rewards  Use coworkers as mentors  Use Employee Assistance Program (EAP)  Provide job coach 46 Situations and Solutions

Situation: A new employee who had passed the probationary period with flying colors was now experiencing the gradual withdrawal of the job coach who had been instrumental in the employee’s success. The supervisor was seeing a few issues resurface. 47 Situations and Solutions

Solution: The employer recruited a coworker that had formed a positive relationship with the new employee to function as a natural support to the employee after the job coach was gone, providing the same type of support. 48 Situations and Solutions

Interacting with Coworkers - Accommodations Most Commonly Discussed  Provide sensitivity training (disability awareness) to all employees  Use roleplay scenarios to demonstrate appropriate behavior in workplace  Use training videos to demonstrate appropriate behavior in workplace 49 Situations and Solutions

Interacting with Coworkers (cont.): Model appropriate social skills  Where to eat at work  When to eat at work  When to hug other coworkers  How to pay for coffee  What to do if you are mad  Who to ask for help  When to leave your workstation 50 Situations and Solutions

Situation: An employee who had difficulty making and sustaining eye contact had the habit of sliding his eyes down to coworkers’ chest area when he was talking with them. Female coworkers felt this was highly inappropriate. 51 Situations and Solutions

Solution: The employee was provided a mentor, someone whom he felt comfortable with to help guide him with personal/social skills. They worked on practicing the skill of looking at an alternative location near the coworker’s ear when the employee couldn’t maintain eye contact while talking to coworkers. 52 Situations and Solutions

Working Effectively with Supervisors - Accommodations Most Commonly Discussed  Communicate one-to-one with employee  Deal with problems as they arise  Keep job coach informed  Train supervisors on communication etiquette  Discuss disciplinary procedures  Monitor effectiveness of accommodations currently provided 53 Situations and Solutions

Situation: An employee who was having difficulty performing her job functions, even right after her manager had given her instructions, called JAN for suggestion on communication strategies. 54 Situations and Solutions

Solution: JAN suggested strategies for communication that included speaking more slowly, using clear short sentences, and asking the employee to repeat back the information to help determine if she has understood. 55 Situations and Solutions

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