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CCN Survey Results: Workplace Accommodations

Did you participate in our recent online survey on workplace accommodations? Thank you for sharing your opinions with us. The survey results are outlined below. As a member of the CATEA Consumer Network (CCN), you will continue to receive similar surveys periodically.

The CCN consists of adults who self-identify as having at least one severe functional difficulty (e.g., seeing, hearing, moving, and/or thinking). Fifty-four (54) people with a history of workplace accommodations completed the online survey, and they identified 69 accommodations as most important. (Some participants selected more than one accommodation as being important to them.) Here’s what we learned from you!

One third of the participants indicated that their accommodations were made at no cost. When accommodations needed to be purchased, 48% said their employer contributed to the costs and 26% of employees said they contributed to the costs.

The survey findings were similar for providing upgrades and/or modifications to the accommodation: 39% reported that employers paid for them and 24% reported that the employee contributed to the cost. Finally, 11% of the respondents stated that Vocational Rehabilitation services contributed to the initial purchase of the workplace accommodation and also for future upgrades or modifications.

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What upgrades / modifications were needed?

About 43% of respondents (n=23) said they had upgrades or modifications made to their initial workplace accommodation. Newer, faster, or more powerful versions of hardware and software were needed to keep up with changes in phone, computer and other work-related technology. Other modifications included battery replacement, stronger lights and sound systems, and installing compatible input or output devices on upgraded computer systems.

For some employees, ever-changing technology in the workplace may require additional changes or upgrades in order for their equipment to remain compatible. Nine people needed computer upgrades such as a new monitor, faster CPU, and upgraded software. Eight people identified changes to phone technology such as upgrading to video phone technology and CapTel phones.

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For others, different accommodations or upgrades may be needed to address the progressive nature of their health conditions and respond to their changing capabilities. One person who used an amplified telephone switched to a captioned telephone.

Once an accommodation has worked effectively in one situation, it may be applied to other work tasks. For example, one person who used flashing lights discovered that he needed multiple lights as signals for different electronic features (phone, fax, PC, AIM). Another person with a hearing impairment needed different audio loop systems to be able to use multiple cell phones.

This CCN survey uncovered information about when and how assistive technology is used in the workplace and who pays for it. We will conduct future surveys to learn more about the effectiveness of workplace accommodations.