Accommodations can be described in terms of an arrangement, a compromise or a settlement but in the realm of disabilities they are viewed more as adjustments made for accessibility. Many people with disabilities rely on and seek out accommodations in multiple environments and situations. Places such as schools, employment opportunities, housing, and others provide accommodations upon request and are required to by law per the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990). The ADA prohibits discrimination of people with disabilities in all public aspects of their life. **If you or someone you know experiences violations against the ADA, you are able to file a report (https://beta.ada.gov/file-a-complaint/) at this link. Accommodations are treasured by many they allow for people with disabilities to take part in normal activities such as school and work without the struggle. They are something that should be taken advantage of by an individual who needs them. The stigma that surrounds “getting help” or accommodations in places that are necessary is illogical. They are there for the benefit of the individual and to be used for that exact reason. Additionally, while there has been great progress made in efforts to include people of all abilities in all settings there unfortunately still is not enough readily available accommodations in many places. Often times people must petition to have certain changes or modifications made to make things more accessible to all. It is absolutely necessary and beneficial to take the petition approach, however it is frustrating to many that there is a wait time as well as the inconsideration of the people who do need certain arrangements.
Two places where accommodations are highly utilized are the Workplace and Schools. Below I briefly introduced accessibility options in these environments and provided resources on how you can learn more about the opportunities for a child or individual.
Workplace
Accommodations in the workplace can vary by need and place of employment. This resource (https://askjan.org/a-to-z.cfm) is great for determining what accommodations are best for you or an employee. It details information by disability, limitation, work-related function, topic or accommodation. Accommodations in the workplace can include and are not limited to interpreters, modifications to physical workspace, allowance of service animals, devices that cater to your needs and so on.
School
Typically, those who require assistance with schooling have already gone through the IEP or IFSP plans with Early Intervention assistance (For more information on Early Intervention, click here). However, there are more disabilities that are not covered for IEP’s and for that there are accessibility plans in place at many schools, at all levels. It requires the completion of the proper forms and a note from the physician who completed an individual’s evaluation. Depending on the need of a student, they can get anything from extra time to take assessments, time to sit with their educator outside of class, privileges to take tests in a quiet setting by themselves and much more.