Affiliations: Law, Health Policy and Disability Center (LHPDC),
University of Iowa College of Law, Iowa City, IA, USA | International Center for Disability Information and
Job Accommodation Network (JAN), West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV,
USA | Burton Blatt Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse,
NY, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Professor P. Blanck, Syracuse
University, Crouse-Hinds Hall, Suite 300, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA. Tel.: +1 315
443 9703; Fax: +1 315 443 9725; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: One central component to meaningful employment for people with
disabilities is the ADA's workplace accommodation provision that allows
qualified individuals to perform essential job functions. Little empirical
evidence is available to evaluate the costs, benefits, and effectiveness of
accommodations. Previous research has focused on direct costs. This article
advocates an inclusive accommodation cost/benefit analysis to include direct
and indirect costs and benefits and to differentiate disability-related
accommodation costs from typical employee costs. The inclusive cost/benefit
analysis is applied to preliminary data from interviews with employers who
contacted the Job Accommodation Network (JAN). Results suggest that
accommodations are low cost, beneficial and effective.
Keywords: Workplace accommodations, Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations
