Thread Subject: Re: Reasonable Accommodation

Note

This archival content is maintained by WebAIM and NCDAE on behalf of TEITAC and the U.S. Access Board . Additional details on the updates to section 508 and section 255 can be found at the Access Board web site.

From: Deborah Buck
Date: Tue, Dec 05 2006 6:05 PM

Individuals with disabilities that are employed by the Federal government
are covered under the ADA and Section 501 of the Rehab Act. If an individual
needs an accommodation the Federal Government is obligated to accommodate
the individual unless it constitutes an undue burden. Also, under the
?Alternate Means Efforts? of Section 508 if the agency can?t develop,
acquire, maintain, or use products that conform to the 508 standards without
an undue burden then they are obligated to ensue that the person has access
by ?an alternate means? which could include an accommodation using assistive
technology. Federal agencies cover the cost of the reasonable
accommodations that are needed even AT. Obviously it would not include
personal AT such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, etc. as the individual would
need these devices beyond the scope of the work setting. The individual
would acquire these personal-use type of devices using their personal health
insurance benefits.



??(B) ALTERNATIVE MEANS EFFORTS.?When development, procurement, maintenance,
or use of electronic and information technology that meets the standards
published by the Access Board under paragraph (2) would impose an undue
burden, the Federal department or agency shall provide individuals with
disabilities covered by paragraph(1) with the information and data involved
by an alternative means of access that allows the individual to use the
information and data.





-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Randy Marsden
Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2006 7:06 PM
To: TEITAC General Interface Accessibility Subcommittee
Subject: [teitac-general] Reasonable Accommodation



Here?s a simple and perhaps naïve question: does Section 508 require the
Federal Government to purchase AT for an employee with a disability who
needs the AT to do their job? Or is that covered someplace else?

We?re going to all this trouble to define accessibility requirements that
must be in mainstream IT in order for the Federal Government to purchase it,
but what about when someone actually is employed and needs to make use of
that accessibility? Is that covered under the ADA? Should it be covered in
508?

In other words: when the Federal Government hires a person with a
disability, who pays for the AT?

(I should know the answer to that question, but I don't. And I figured if I
don?t, then there are probably others who don?t as well).

-Randy Marsden

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