Affiliations: Department of Counseling and Personnel Services,
University of Maryland, 3214 Benjamin Bldg., College Park, MD 20742, USA.
Tel.: +1 301 405 2858; E-mail: km208@umail.umd.edu | Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Sargent College
of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University, 940 Commonwealth
Avenue West, Boston, MA 02215, USA. Tel.: +1 617 353 3549; Fax: +1 617 353
7700; E-mail: erogers@bu.edu
Note: [] Corresponding author
Abstract: Objective: Years after the passage of the Americans with
Disabilities Act, little empirical information exists about the relationship
between the functional limitations experienced by individuals with psychiatric
disabilities, and related reasonable accommodations provided on the job. Design: A multi-site, longitudinal study was conducted with 191
employees in 22 supported employment programs across 3 states during a 1-year
study period. Data were gathered prospectively in a structured, narrative form
designed to describe both the functional limitations and accommodations of
participants. Results: The most frequent functional limitations among this group
of employed persons with psychiatric disabilities were cognitive in nature,
followed by social, physical, and emotional/other. There was a significant
relationship between the type of functional limitation and the number and type
of accommodations received. There was a marginally significant relationship
between type of functional limitation and a diagnosis of schizophrenia. There
were no significant relationships between any other clinical or demographic
factors, functional limitations or reasonable accommodations. Conclusion: Functional limitations and their associated
accommodations can be defined and categorized. Cognitive limitations were the
most prevalent in this sample and the best predictor of the number of
accommodations provided. Implications of these findings for accommodations
under the ADA, eligibility for Social Security Disability benefits, and
vocational assessment and planning are discussed
Keywords: functional limitations, psychiatric disability, reasonable accommodations, work
