JAN Blog

During these unprecedented times there is a lot of confusion and uncertainty about the coronavirus. The unknown of how we may each be impacted, added to the stressors of work,...

Employers all over the country are responding to the COVID-19, or coronavirus, situation in unprecedented ways in an effort to be part of the solution to reduce the spread of...

As many of you know, the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is located at West Virginia University (WVU) in Morgantown, WV. While well known for our sports teams and sometimes-overzealous student...

I recently got back from presenting on workplace accommodations at a national safety conference. One common issue that came up repeatedly were instances when employees, both those with and without...

You’ve asked your employer for a screen reader and engaged in the interactive process. Now, your screen reading program is here and ready to use! Be aware, the software does...

Maybe your desk is in the middle of a new open-floor office space your employer decided to lease. Maybe your colleagues are a bit too talkative throughout the day, or...

Serving on the motor team for 8 years, one issue that comes up time after time is emergency evacuation plans for an employee who uses a wheelchair. Whether it’s part...

We have all had moments of forgetfulness. Maybe you mixed up your Tuesdays and showed up to a medical appointment one week early; when you were a student, perhaps it...

The JAN staff respond to a broad range of inquiries related to disability employment issues, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and accommodation topics. In March, JAN published an Ask...

Here at JAN, many of our assistive technology (AT) related vision calls continue to revolve around computer access. One of our most commonly requested resources is external computer screen magnification....

Every sixty-six seconds someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in this country. This was the jarring statistic a speaker shared with attendees at West Virginia University’s Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute Inaugural...

An employee with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) experiences respiratory distress and headaches when exposed to certain fragrances. A coworker with generalized anxiety disorder uses essential oils to manage stress. How...

My career spans more than 30 years in the field of disability and employment. As expected, many changes have occurred as we march toward that more inclusive workplace. Noticeably over...

Last month, three lucky members of the JAN staff had the opportunity to attend the 34th CSUN Assistive Technology Conference in beautiful Anaheim, California. We packed our bags and headed...

In the age of virtual assistants, like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, we’ve become accustomed to the convenience of asking an artificial intelligence-powered device any question we can think of,...

National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is March 3-9, 2019. Sponsored by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the week aims to draw attention to information, resources, and organizations available to consumers...

We are taught at an early age that nutrition is important. I remember being in elementary school and learning about the food pyramid and how different diets can affect our...

Melanie Whetzel, Lead Consultant – Cognitive/Neurological Team Mental Health and Productivity in the Workplace: A Handbook for Organizations and Clinicians By: Jeffrey P. Kahn, M.D. and Alan M. Langlieb, M.D. M.B.A...

Here at JAN, we’ve written a good bit about disclosure – what it means, and how, when, and why it should be done. You can find the information on our...

Is it a little premature to think about a post-inclusionary world – a world that is both true to the theme of this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)...

In a new television show New Amsterdam, that airs on the NBC network, Dr. Max Goodwin is hired to be the medical director of a public hospital that has lost...

The number of peer-reviewed academic articles that are actually read by anyone other than reviewers, editors, and a small group of peers is often cited as being dismally low. This...

Employers are called upon to provide workplace supports for employees for many reasons -- some personal, some medical. Modifications are made or flexibility is often allowed as a benefit of...

Glucose monitoring is an important component of diabetes management, but what should employers do when the way an employee manages their condition is in conflict with a policy? Here is...

As the Lead Consultant on JAN’s self-employment team, I’m often fielding questions from individuals with disabilities interested in starting a business in agriculture. These types of businesses include a diverse...

The trucking industry can bring a unique set of challenges when it comes to accommodating employees with motor-related impairments. The limitations caused by these impairments can vary, but frequently reported...

This past November, I had the opportunity to attend the 2017 Annual International Conference on ADHD, otherwise known as the CHADD Conference. A colleague and I headed down to Atlanta,...

February is Low Vision Awareness Month. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 253 million people are living with vision impairments with 36 million individuals who are blind...

“This is a question too difficult for a mathematician. It should be asked of a philosopher.” (His answer when asked about completing his income tax form).   ― Albert Einstein Tax time...

JAN is fortunate to be able to use the JAN Blog as a vehicle for interviewing an organization, employer, individual, or business about how their work contributes to the employability...

The flu epidemic is sweeping the U.S. this winter season. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), influenza-like illness is reported as widespread across all ten regions of the...

As the Lead Consultant on the JAN Sensory Team, I receive many questions about hearing aids and telephone headsets. One common issue with these type of questions is that there...

ADHD Awareness Month is celebrated annually to help improve the lives of those living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The theme for 2017, Knowing Better: ADHD Across the Life...

On November 2nd and 3rd, hundreds of people from around the world gathered at the Second Harkin Summit on Global Disability Employment to listen, network, and discuss the continuing employment...

The consultants on JAN’s sensory team frequently field questions regarding allergies and respiratory impairments. One common trigger for allergic reactions and respiratory distress is exposure to mold. Many employers are...

The song is in your head now, isn’t it? You know the one. Now you have this vision of a pile of big and little, furry dogs, ears flopping up...

I have recently started working in the disability field assisting individuals with diverse limitations who are trying to acquire workplace accommodations. In the few short months I’ve been working in...

It’s October again. For many people, October is a time for pumpkin spice everything, watching football, feeling the warmth of a cozy sweatshirt, and enjoying the colors of fall as...

Leave-related accommodation issues are among the most complex and challenging under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). ADA leave can be administered in various ways, and in conjunction with employer...

JAN is fortunate to be able to use the JAN Blog as a vehicle for interviewing an organization, employer, individual, or business about how their work contributes to the employability...

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month! As thunderstorms hit and temperatures rise, I’m reminded that summer is quickly approaching. Time sure does fly by — it feels like we were...

We recently received an inquiry regarding accommodation options for individuals who are receiving dialysis and are taking time off work to seek the treatment. Employers who are evaluating these types...

We’ve been getting more and more questions about service animals in the workplace, both from employers and people with disabilities who use service animals. One of the questions we frequently...