The September edition of the JAN Newsletter commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Job Accommodation Network (JAN), which opened its doors in 1983.
Back then, JAN's services comprised two consultants providing accommodation information to employers over two telephone lines. The premise was to gather and share information about effective accommodation solutions in order to help more employers across America successfully employ workers with disabilities.
Over the ensuing years, JAN expanded its services in both volume and scope, and when the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 went into effect, it stood at the ready to help not only employers but also employees, service providers and others understand the new law and the central role workplace accommodations played in delivering on its promise. In fact, inquiries more than doubled the first few years after the ADA's implementation.
When the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy was established in 2001, JAN became a key technical assistance resource supporting the new agency's mission to develop and influence policies and practices that increase the number and quality of employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
While the employment landscape has changed dramatically since 1983, JAN's underlying goal remains the same—to help create more inclusive workplaces by ensuring workers with disabilities have access to the tools and supports they need to succeed on the job, today, and into the future.
In honor of our anniversary, we've launched a new, improved homepage that makes it even easier to access all our extensive resources. We invite you to explore AskJAN.org to learn more about how, 40 years on, JAN remains committed to providing information about accommodation solutions to help employers and employees reap the benefits that come from a disability-inclusive workforce.
Happy 40th Anniversary, JAN!
