Information and Available Resources for Accommodations

Both the USERRA and the ADA require employers to make certain adjustments for veterans with disabilities, called “reasonable accommodations.” The USERRA also requires employers to assist a veteran who is returning to employment to become qualified for a job, whether or not the veteran has a service-connected disability. This could include providing training or retraining for the position. See Title 38, United States Code, Chapter 43 – Employment and Reemployment Rights of Members of the Uniformed Services, 38 U.S.C. § 4313; 20 C.F.R. §§ 1002.198, 1002.225 -.226.

EEOC Enforcement Guidance: Reasonable Accommodation and Undue Hardship Under the ADA
http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/accommodation.html

Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
JAN is one of several services provided by the DOL’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). The JAN is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues.
Phone: 800-526-7234 or 877-781-9403 (TTY).
http://www.askjan.org

Hero Health Hire Initiative
Hero Health Hire Initiative is a gathering place where business leaders, government officials, and concerned citizens can learn, share information, and commit to helping our nation’s disabled veterans find and retain meaningful employment. The initiative provides information, tools, and guidance for recruiting, hiring, training, and supporting disabled veterans in the workplace. To learn more, visit http://www.herohealthhire.com/.

DOD Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP)
Established by the federal government, the CAP is a centrally-funded program that provides assistive technology (AT) and reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. CAP’s mission is to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to information and employment opportunities in the DOD and throughout the federal government.Phone: 703-681-8813 or 703-681-3978 (TTY).
http://www.cap.mil/

ADA Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers (DBTACs)

The DBTACs consist of 10 federally funded regional centers that provide information, training, and technical assistance on the ADA. Each center works with local business, disability, governmental, rehabilitation, and other professional networks to provide current ADA information and assistance, and places special emphasis on meeting the needs of small businesses. The DBTACs can make referrals to local sources of expertise in reasonable accommodations.
Phone: 800-949-4232 (Voice/TTY).
http://adata.org/Static/Home.html 

Employer Fact Sheet and Resource Guide
America’s Heroes at Work has created an employer fact sheet and resource guide for employers. These resources were developed in cooperation with the DOL’s ODEP, JAN, the VETS, the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, and the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center. The information available includes frequently asked questions about PTSD and TBI, Dispelling the Myths about PTSD, Accommodating Employees with PTSD/TBI, Promising Practices for Employment Success, Employers and the ADA: Myths and Facts, and Tax Incentives for Providing Business Accessibility. Spanish materials are also available. For more information, visit http://www.americasheroesatwork.gov/forEmployers/factsheets/.

Considerations, Accommodations, and Resources
JAN is a service of the DOL’s ODEP. The Compliance Series is designed to help employers determine effective accommodations and comply with Title I of the ADA. Each publication in the series addresses a specific medical condition and provides information about the condition, ADA information, questions employers should consider, accommodation ideas, and resources for additional information.  A list of topics that might be relevant to veterans can be found at http://askjan.org/media/atoz.htm.

Searchable Online Accommodation Resource
There are many products that can be used to accommodate people with work limitations. JAN’s Searchable Online Accommodation Resource (SOAR) is designed to let users explore various accommodation options.  Many product vendor lists are accessible through this system; however, upon request, JAN provides these lists and many more that are not available on the website. Contact JAN directly if you have specific accommodation situations, are looking for products, need vendor information, or are seeking a referral. Online resources can be found at http://askjan.org/soar