The Unique Needs of the Disabled in the Workplace

The Unique Needs of the Disabled in the Workplace

When a company hires a person with a disability they are potentially facing some unique challenges. Depending on the severity and scope of the disability anything from the workspace itself to employee conduct might need to change.

There is no denying that many people with a disability prosper and thrive at their chosen careers. They are valuable assets to the companies they work for and therefore making some minor adjustments to accommodate them is never viewed as a liability, in fact it’s an asset.

Some areas of the work place that may need to be changed to accommodate the needs of the disabled include:

· Changing the office furniture. If a person with a disability requires a specially designed chair or an ergonomic keyboard, the employer is expected to make the changes. It’s important for each employee to be comfortable in his or her workplace and this is true in the case of disabled individuals as well.
· Changing work hours. In some cases a disability can cause sleep problems. An individual might have difficulty falling asleep at a certain time each evening and therefore find it difficult to arrive to work early in the morning. If they can alter their working hours so that they arrive and leave later, the employer should give the suggestion careful consideration. By the same token, some disabilities require the individual to have rest periods throughout the day. The employer will need to make allowances for that as well.
· Accommodation for medical leave. Quite often a disabled person will have more intensive medical needs than their colleagues. They may need to attend doctor appointments more regularly or undergo procedures that will take them away from their work. If the employer can help them reach a solution to allow that, such as making up the time after work or having another employee cover their work, this can make the appointments much less stressful.
· Changing access to the workplace. If a person is confined to a wheelchair there may need to be constructional changes made to the work space to accommodate that. Perhaps a ramp or moving the office furniture will suffice.

The changes or allowances made in the workplace will vary depending on the condition of the disabled person. Other employees may also need to change their work habits to help the disabled person feel more integrated into the team environment.

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