Rehabilitation
Research and Training Center onAging with a Disability
Job Accommodation Research
Check Out Our Research!
The impact of aging with a disability on work was recently studied. Ninety-six people with a disability were interviewed by phone. Fifty of these people were living with the effects of post-polio and 46 with a spinal cord injury. All were working or were recently unemployed. The purpose of the study was to document 1) whether employees who are aging with a disability have experienced new work problems as a result of changes in function and 2) whether their work problems are being adequately accommodated.
Our Findings
Almost all of the people in the post-polio group experienced changes in function as they aged. About one-third of the spinal cord injury group reported the same. This difference in the two groups, however, may be due to the fact that the post-polio group was more than eleven years older than the SCI group and had worked about 14 years longer with their disabilities. For both groups, declines in function occurred primarily in their late 40s and early 50s and impacted their ability to work. Job tasks became harder to perform and work schedules harder to keep. As job performance decreased, a number of individuals retired early and a few were fired. Job accommodation was found to be very important in solving work problems and helping to keep the participant working.
Our findings provide important information for anyone who is experiencing functional changes that are impacting work. Hopefully, the following will help you in recognizing and solving work problems through accommodation.
- Most individuals experience work related problems due to their disability. This was true for 92 of our 96 participants. Work related problems requiring accommodation can occur when beginning to work after a disability or at any point during your working career.
- Many people with disabilities are experiencing new health problems and functional changes as they age. These changes often include chronic fatigue, pain and muscle weakness and cause new work problems.
- Employees don't always recognize or may ignore the impact of functional changes on their performance of job tasks, especially if changes occur gradually. Some people ignore problems until it is too late and employment is jeopardized.
- As functional changes are recognized, employees often "adjust" their lifestyles, first limiting activities outside of work to have energy to work. Don't wait to make your work problems known!
- Accommodations are important in helping to keep employees with disabilities working. Three of every eight participants said they would have to quit or be fired if they had no accommodations.
- Employees are often reluctant to ask for accommodations. Not asking was the primary reason for accommodations not being provided.
- You have a right to reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) if your employer has 15 or more employees. The process for reasonable accommodation starts with the employee identifying the problem and requesting an accommodation.
- Accommodations are usually inexpensive. Most of the accommodations used by the participants in our study cost $100 or less and many were provided at no cost. Examples of no-cost accommodations include coworker assistance, modifying work tasks and flexible schedules.
- Employers are usually willing to pay for accommodations. In our study, employers paid for most of the accommodations. Employers rarely refused when asked to provide an accommodation.
- Coworkers are usually supportive of a need for accommodation and are often willing to be part of the solution by providing some help.
- Employers are not the only source for obtaining necessary accommodations. Other sources included the employee, the Department of Rehabilitation, private insurance, family or friends and public insurance.
- There are resources available to help with identifying and obtaining accommodations, although most of our participants were unfamiliar with them. In many cases the reason given for an accommodation not being provided was that no solution had been identified. Seeking outside help can make a difference! Resources can be found in our Job Accomodation Fact Sheet.
Rehabilitation
Research and Training Center on Aging with a Disability
Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center
7601 E. Imperial Hwy, Building 800-W
Downey, California 90242; (voice) 562-401-7402; (fax) 562-401-7011
webmaster: chuck.sanders@agingwithdisability.org
last updated 7/14/2008
