Using Job Accommodations for a Return to Work - Clinicians’ Role

Research Objectives: Identify the role Clinicians play in assisting people with disabilities with accessing job accommodations that best support their return to work.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Setting: People with physical disabilities primarily in the Midwestern United States.

Participants: Convenience sample of 333 people with disabilities recruited through multiple sources and responded to an online survey.

Interventions: None

Main Outcome Measures: Description of frequently used job accommodations and clinical staff supports

Results: 261 of the respondents reported using one or more job accommodations. The most common accommodations used were flexible scheduling, telework, modifying work areas, and providing adaptive equipment. Twenty-one percent reported their employer was unfamiliar with providing job accommodations. Only 3% of the respondents were familiar with the Job Accommodation Network and only 38% reported receiving vocational rehabilitation services. Eighty-seven percent of respondents stated physicians were very helpful or helpful in their return-to-work process. Other therapy staff, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech language pathologists were rated as 93% very helpful or helpful.

Conclusions: People with disabilities often do not know that they can request reasonable accommodations from their employers. Accommodations usually require a note from their physician substantiating the need. Physicians and other clinicians should discuss with their patients the kinds of job accommodations that would assist return to work. The therapy team plays an important role in supporting the return-to-work efforts of their patients by assisting with the identification of appropriate accommodations. Once accommodations are identified, therapists can incorporate work simulation activities into rehabilitation services in preparation for return to work. This poster will review the job accommodations and return to work process with support from the clinical rehabilitation team.

Author(s) Disclosures: The authors report no conflicts of interest.