Section IV. Linking Accessibility and Accommodation Policy
This section of the Workplace Accommodation and Accessibility Policy Toolkit reviews how and why to integrate accessibility and accommodation processes in the workplace.
When developing policies, organizations should consider directly linking their accessibility program and accommodation services. Effective communication between these teams is essential to organizational sustainability, scaling for growth, and innovation. While integrating accessibility and accommodation processes will not eliminate all accommodation requests, it will reduce the need for some requests and expedite both the accessibility and accommodation processes, contributing to the effectiveness of each.
Policy Assessment
1. What does it mean to link accessibility and accommodation policy?
Linking accessibility and accommodation policy means including a process that allows each program to communicate with the other and to share information to make continuous improvements. New accessibility features may be based in part on previous accommodation requests; once implemented, the accessibility feature may reduce the need for some future accommodation requests. As organizations receive new accommodation requests, they can use those requests to add accessibility features.
2. Why is linking accessibility and accommodation policy important for inclusion?
Making the workplace accessible to as many people as possible by design demonstrates a commitment to inclusion. Using accommodation requests to continuously improve an accessibility program reflects a commitment to the inclusion of people with disabilities. When these processes are integrated, accommodation implementation times are reduced, onboarding delays are minimized, new technology integration is smoother, and facilities are more accessible.
3. How is linking accessibility and accommodation policy beneficial to employers?
Aside from making the workplace more inclusive, greater accessibility is likely to reduce the frequency of accommodation requests, which need to be handled on a case-by-case basis. This, in turn, could decrease the number of staff needed to process accommodations and help to ensure employees with disabilities can be productive more quickly. For example, an employer might develop a catalog of accessibility tools, equipment, and software that will be approved upon request by any employee without requiring an accommodation process.
4. How can accommodations and accessibility be cross-managed?
Communication is the key to cross-managing accommodation and accessibility policy. Subject matter experts (SMEs) from each program should understand both accommodations and accessibility to bridge any communication gaps. Accommodation services should know what accessibility features are in place to reduce redundant efforts. The accessibility program should know what accommodations are in place and what requests are being made so they can use that information to add more universal accessibility features. Both teams should communicate as one with other teams, so resources are allocated appropriately, and new systems and structures meet workers’ needs.
Policy Development
Questions to Ask
Develop an effective accessibility program by asking the following questions of your organization.