Job Accommodations
The goal of a job accommodation is to allow a qualified worker to function at his or her most productive level. Accommodations enable a person who is blind or visually impaired to have equal employment opportunity. While there are various types of assistive technology available to assist persons who are blind and visually impaired, accommodations are based on individual needs and the required job functions.
If a person is blind or visually impaired consider things in terms of job functions. For example, if the individual must accessing reading materials ask questions like:
- Does the individual read Braille?
- Use magnification devices?
- Read using large print?
- Use a computer or another form of assistive technology?
Also some persons who are blind or visually impaired may have color vision deficiency. If one needs to distinguish color to do a job function consider some of the following:
- What colors does the individual have difficulty distinguishing?
- Would the individual benefit from special red contact lens worn on one eye or prescription glasses?
- Do the individual's job functions lend themselves to the use of talking products that scan a color and announce a description of the color?
The best person to ask about what accommodation is needed is the employee. However, Florida Blind Services will assist you and the employee in finding reasonable accommodations, provide training to the employee on using it, if required, and in some instances provide the equipment to the employee. We also can provide training to supervisors or staff on how to work with persons who are blind or visually impaired.
Useful External Links
Working Together: People with Disabilities and Computer Technology
Watch a video on how various computer technologies can help people with disabilities be productive employees.
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) offers free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. JAN works to find solutions that benefit both the employer and the employee. JAN helps people with disabilities enhance their employability and shows employers how to capitalize on the value and talent that people with disabilities add to the workplace.
Publications & Articles (askjan.org)
JAN’s Accommodation and Compliance Series is designed to help employers determine effective accommodations and comply with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Each publication in the series addresses a specific medical condition and provides information about the condition, ADA information, accommodation ideas, and resources for additional information.
