Assessment and planning in the Americans with Disabilities Act era: Strategies for consumer self-advocacy and employer collaboration

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Lynn C. Koch,

Affiliations: Kent State University, Department of Educational Foundations and Special Services, Center for Disability Studies, 405 White Hall, Kent, Ohio USA 44242-0001, USA. Tel.: +1 330 672 2294; Fax: +1 330 672 2512; E-mail: lkoch@educ.kent.edu

Abstract: With the introduction of legislation that protects the employment rights of people with disabilities but also requires them to assume responsibility for communicating their needs to employers, it is critical that rehabilitation consumers develop the skills to self-advocate and to collaborate with employers to implement reasonable accommodations. The purpose of this article is to review assessment and planning strategies that (a) increase the consumer's awareness of the protections afforded by legislative mandates such as Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), (b) identify worksite accommodation needs, (c) promote collaborative communication with employers to implement and evaluate reasonable accommodations, and (d) teach the consumer how to negotiate with employers and resolve conflicts that may arise in the accommodation planning process.

Keywords: self-advocacy, assessment and planning, reasonable accommodations

Journal: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 103-108, 2000