All employees need the right tools and work environment to effectively perform their jobs. Reasonable accommodations provide individuals with disabilities the opportunity to have equal access to workplace benefits and help to build a productive and dedicated workforce.
Reasonable accommodations are modifications or adjustments to jobs, work environments, or workplace policies that enable qualified employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their jobs and have equal opportunity to receive the benefits available to employees without disabilities.
Accommodations can help agencies hire new workers with disabilities, ensure productivity in the workplace, and retain workers who may acquire a disability or become ill.
Include an Equal Employment Opportunity statement and reasonable accommodation information in all job advertisements and notices.
Sample statement: "The [State of Minnesota or agency name] is an equal opportunity, affirmative action, and veteran-friendly employer, and encourages all qualified candidates to apply for job opportunities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application and search tools, please contact the [ADA Coordinator or designee's name] at [list phone number and/or email address]. Please indicate what assistance is needed. Provide all employees with your agency's ADA Coordinator name and contact information during their new hire orientation. Provide employees, supervisors, managers, and HR professionals with access to the statewide reasonable accommodation forms.
Job evaluations and job coaching assistance:
Accommodations for Meetings and Events
When hosting meetings and events, it is important that everyone involved has an equal opportunity to participate. To ensure that meetings and events are accessible to people with disabilities, be sure you have considered the following:
- Where is the meeting being held?
- How is the furniture in the room arranged?
- How is information regarding the meeting being communicated both before, during, and after?
Accommodation Resources
JAN is a free service of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)'s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and provides resources on reasonable accommodations and workplace strategies related to job applicants and employees with disabilities. JAN's services include consultation, technical assistance, accommodations solutions, training, assistive technology tips, and more.
Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers (DBTACs)
Ten regional Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers (DBTACs) sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education's National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research provide ADA information, training, and technical assistance across the nation.
CAP has created a series of online training modules to help you understand how to hire employees with disabilities and wounded, ill, and injured service members. Specifically, their providing reasonable accommodations series has a total of seven short videos (two to seven minutes in length).
Disability Agency Partners
Minnesota System of Technology to Achieve Results (STAR) Program
The MN STAR Program provides individuals and employers with access to and assistance acquiring assistive technology. Their website has information on accessible technology, resources, and federal and state accessibility laws.
DHHS provides information, resources, and employment opportunities to assist Minnesotans who are deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing. Some examples of services they provide employers include free interactive training on a variety of topics (i.e.: impact of hearing loss, Deaf Culture, communication tips, and more), assistive technology demonstration labs, employment technology loan programs, and referrals to other local resources.
SSB is a division of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and provides tools, training, and technology help to both individuals and employers. Some examples of the services they provide to employers include consultation on work site accessibility, production of documents in alternative formats (i.e.: Braille, audio tape, etc.), recruiting and placement services, and more.
VRS provides services to individuals with disabilities to help them prepare for, find and keep a job and live as independently as possible. Their services for employers include recruiting and placement services, training and resource guides, referrals to local community partners, and more.