23 Sep

Don’t Break the Bank — Low Cost Accommodations Do Exist!

What do tennis balls, a headlamp, and curtains all have in common? They can all be used as a reasonable accommodation in the workplace. But wait — how can that...

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30 Mar

Coronavirus (COVID-19), Stress, and Mental Health Conditions

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,...

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06 Feb

Syncope: Understanding What It Is and How to Accommodate It

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...

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13 Nov

Screen Reader Troubleshooting

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...

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07 Nov

Accommodating Distracting Work Spaces

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...

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29 Oct

A Practical Approach to Emergency Evacuation for Wheelchair Users

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...

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26 Sep

Memory Difficulties in the Workplace

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...

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25 Jul

What’s that Smell? Balancing Fragrance-Related Accommodation Needs with the Need to Use Essential Oils

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...

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13 Feb

Vitamin Deficiency – A Hidden Workplace Concern

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...

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20 Aug

Give Em’ a Break: Supporting Employees with Lactation-related Needs

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...

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06 Aug

Apps for Diabetes Management – Workplace Accommodation Strategies

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...

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21 Mar

An Interview with Sandy Maynard- ADD/ADHD Coach and Owner of Catalytic Coaching

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,...

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01 Mar

Magnifiers, Screen Readers, and Braille – Oh My!

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...

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16 Feb

Fighting the Flu at Work

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...

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18 Jan

Hearing Aid Tips When Using Telephone Headsets

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...

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06 Dec

October is ADHD Awareness Month

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...

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18 Nov

Who Let the Dogs…In?

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...

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10 Oct

Workplace Supports for Employees with Breast Cancer

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...

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06 Oct

Maximum Leave Policies and the ADA

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...

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25 May

Shining a Light on Sun Safety

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...

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24 May

Accommodation Ideas for Individuals on Dialysis

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...

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19 May

Service Animal Access vs. Wheelchair Access – Why the Difference?

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...

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19 Aug

What’s in a Routine?

With summer coming to a close and schools starting to resume, I become reminiscent of the time when my son was younger. I hear parents talking about being anxious for school to start so their kids will be back on a schedule and out of their hair.

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15 Jul

Common Questions about Providing Equipment as an Accommodation

As the Lead Consultant for the Motor Team, I am asked questions daily about the provision of equipment as an accommodation. Employers, individuals, and even rehabilitation professionals often ask if...

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29 Jun

Hobby Groups, Workplace Wellness, and Stress Reduction

Every Thursday afternoon, I grab my yarn and knitting needles and join some of my colleagues at JAN for our “Yarn Club.” A mix of knitters and crocheters gather together...

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17 Jun

Resources for Those Affected by Trauma-Related Disability and LGBTQ Workplace Supports

Support from JAN Traumatic events happen every day. It is simply a question of what happens, to whom, and who feels the effects of that tragedy. The LGBTQ+ community is...

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31 May

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) — Only In the Winter? Not Always the Case

This past November, JAN posted a Blog discussing Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is often characterized as “winter blues;” it is a type of depression that is associated with the...

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13 May

Avoiding “The Waiting Place” After Requesting Medical Information

In his beloved book, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, Dr. Seuss writes about “The Waiting Place” — an imaginary (or perhaps not) place in life where everyone is waiting for...

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06 May

Accommodating Cooks with Low Vision

Cooking and eating together are powerful ways of building relationships and creating a sense of community at work. Whether you are seeking to include an employee in cooking activities, or...

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15 Apr

Tips for Starting a Food Related Small Business

Many JAN customers contact us with an interest in starting a food related business. Below is a sample of the type of food businesses we have been contacted about: Food...

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15 Apr

Fonts for Readers with Dyslexia

While some of you may be familiar with the two dyslexia fonts highlighted below, many may not be aware of the specifics of how they can assist as reading improvement...

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07 Mar

Spring Cleaning Your Workplace

After the long, dark, and cold winter, we yearn for spring. We look forward to warmth, flowers, birdsong, and spending time outdoors. We also look forward to the opportunity to...

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04 Mar

Whether You Are a Night Owl or Morning Bird, Make Sure You Are Catching Your Zzzs

This year, The National Sleep Foundation will celebrate Sleep Awareness Week starting March 6th. The hope is to spread awareness of the importance of sleep to our health, safety, and...

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12 Jan

Disability Inclusion as a Function of Managing

If you take a management class or two, you get a lot of theory. You might read about the Hawthorne Effect, which tells us that employees work harder when they...

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04 Jan

As the Old Saying Goes…

Remember the old saying, “He knows just enough to be dangerous”? I find this saying popping into my head over and over when I talk with employers about reassignment as...

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21 Dec

Baby It’s Cold…Inside

It's that time of year when the song "Baby It's Cold Outside" melodically plays in my mind (imagine the Lady Gaga and Tony Bennet rendition). During the holiday season the...

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10 Dec

A Scent-Filled Season — Allergy Reminder for the End of Year

It’s that time again! With all the holiday festivities at the end of the year, we may be tempted to bring in those leftovers, or wear that new perfume, but...

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23 Nov

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) — More than Gray Skies in Winter

As I was driving on the interstate this past week, I couldn’t help but notice that most of the trees had lost their leaves. The beautiful reds, yellows, and oranges...

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18 Nov

What Kind of Businesses Do People with Disabilities Start?

At almost every event or conference I attend, one of the questions I’m frequently asked is, “What kind of businesses do people with disabilities start?” My response to the question...

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29 Oct

Recognizing Learning Disabilities (LD) Awareness Month

Not only is October National Disability Employment Awareness Month, but it is also Learning Disabilities Awareness Month. JAN is joining with others such as LD OnLine and the Learning Disabilities...

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16 Oct

Work After Breast Cancer

One of the most positive things about more people surviving breast cancer, and cancer diagnoses in general, is that life after a diagnosis goes on, including one’s work life. Many...

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14 Oct

Strategies for Developing a Transgender-Inclusive Workplace

Inclusion. Equality. Fairness. Respect. It’s reasonable to say that all of these words have significant meaning to everyone, particularly at work. All employees should be able to participate in, and...

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09 Oct

Mental Health Awareness – Creating a More Inclusive Workplace

October 10th is World Mental Health Day. Originally celebrated in 1992 as an initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, its objectives included raising awareness of mental health issues...

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18 Aug

Healthcare Workers with Motor Impairments – Part 2

In this final segment of the 2-part Blog on accommodations for healthcare workers with motor impairments, JAN Lead Consultant Elisabeth Simpson, MS., CRC, in collaboration with the founder of the...

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07 Jul

The Importance of Soft Skills for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities – Three Important Tips

Over the years, JAN consultants have fielded questions from aspiring entrepreneurs with many different types of disabilities and every conceivable variation of business idea. Frog farm – we’ve heard of...

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01 Jul

Healthcare Workers with Motor Impairments

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2013), the health care and social assistance sector will account for almost a third of the projected job growth between 2012 and 2022....

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05 Jun

The Power of the Doodle

Are you a doodler? If you are, then you know how much your concentration and focus are improved while you doodle. If you aren’t a doodler, you just might not...

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05 Jun

“But you don’t look sick…”

  It’s late spring and with that comes many things: warmer weather, rain showers, flowers (and with them the pollen), Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, and a personal favorite of mine,...

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22 Apr

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Disability Awareness Training

April is Autism Awareness Month, and in honor of that, we wanted to touch on how to accommodate employees with ASD by incorporating disability awareness training into the process. In...

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17 Apr

Requesting Accommodations Due to Pregnancy-related Limitations

A new law, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, is effective on June 27, 2023. Congratulations, you’re having a baby! You’re overwhelmed with thoughts about designing a nursery, buying baby clothes,...

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26 Feb

February Heart Health — Accommodating Employees with Pacemakers in the Workplace

For some, the month of February is about expressing love for family, friends, and even co-workers. For others, February is about thawing out from the cold and dark of winter...

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23 Feb

Finding Your Heart-Healthy Buddy

Between Valentine’s Day and American Heart Month, February is a time of year when connecting with others and taking care of ourselves is pushed to the forefront. So what better...

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28 Jan

Take a Deep Breath

For individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it can be difficult to take a deep breath at times. This difficulty may be triggered by temperature changes, humidity levels, contaminants,...

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08 Jan

Elevating Lift Office Chairs

For years, JAN consultants searched for an office chair that can elevate while a person is seated in the chair and that also has a braking system to prevent the...

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25 Nov

Employer Perspective – On the Benefits of Mentoring

  Tailored Label Products, Inc. (TLP) is a manufacturer of custom labels and die cut adhesives located in Menomonee Falls, WI. TLP won a 2014 APSE award for being a...

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07 Oct

Focus on Effective Workplace Accommodations for Employees with Hearing Impairments

By: Teresa Goddard, Senior Consultant, Sensory Team Recently, JAN’s Sensory Team has received a number of calls involving employees who are having difficulty purchasing or repairing hearing aids. Some employers...

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10 Sep

Assistance Dogs in the Workplace – Reflections on How to Make It Work – Part 2

On August 5, 2014, JAN presented a Webcast entitled Best Practices – Employment and Service Dogs: Perspectives from Assistance Dog Experts during International Assistance Dog Week featuring assistance (or “service”)...

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26 Aug

Spotlight on Accommodating Individuals with Depression in the Workplace

With the recent tragic loss of legendary actor and comedian Robin Williams, there has been much discussion surrounding mental health issues and depression in particular. According to the National Institute...

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25 Aug

Assistance Dogs in the Workplace – Reflections on How to Make It Work – Part 1

On August 5, 2014, JAN presented a Webcast during International Assistance Dog Week featuring assistance (or “service”) dog experts Dr. Margaret Glenn and Marcie Davis. For those who missed the...

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23 Jul

JAN Blog – Focus on Technology

The JAN Team focuses on technology – new and old – and its possible applications in accommodating people with disabilities in the workplace. Lyssa Rowan, New Media Assistant One of...

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12 May

Employment Matters: A Conversation with Steve Nissen at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) – National Capital Chapter

JAN is fortunate to have many thriving collaborations with organizations throughout the U.S. seeking to advance employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. One of our strongest alliances is with the...

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14 Apr

April is Donate Life Month: Accommodations for Employees Who Have Received Organ Transplants

April is National Donate Life Month focusing attention on the importance of organ and tissue donation in much needed medical transplants. Donate Life America and its partnering organizations feature activities...

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19 Feb

February is American Heart Month

While our thoughts this month are focused on Valentine’s Day, the American Heart Association uses February each year to bring awareness to some pretty grave statistics.  According to the Centers...

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18 Dec

The Manager’s Dilemma: “An employee is asking about a co-worker’s accommodation. As a manager, what do I say?”

When I’m on the road presenting, I often get this question. Usually it is from a supervisor or hiring manager, but at times from a human resource (HR) specialist who...

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05 Dec

Service Dogs as a Workplace Accommodation for Employees with Diabetes

November was American Diabetes Month, so predictably JAN consultants received many inquiries about accommodations for employees with diabetes. JAN customers often ask about the most common type of accommodation for...

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26 Nov

Spotlight on National Epilepsy Awareness Month

November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month focusing attention on the experiences of individuals with epilepsy and seizure disorders in many aspects of their daily lives, including employment. JAN is offering...

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26 Nov

Scents and Sensitivity in the Workplace

When we talk about making facilities accessible and useable as a type of accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), most people don’t necessarily think about invisible barriers that...

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08 Nov

Learn How the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC) Can Help You!

By: MSKTC Staff Do you have a spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic brain injury (TBI), or burn injury? Or do you care for someone who does? If the answer to...

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30 Oct

Thoughts from JAN’s Co-Directors for National Disability Employment Awareness Month

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month and this year’s theme is “Because We Are EQUAL to the Task.” While this month is a great time to raise awareness of...

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23 Aug

It’s Back to School Time – Accommodating Educators with Disabilities

Unless you have been living with your head in the sand at your favorite beach, you know that the back-to-school season is upon us. If you have ventured into any...

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31 Jul

JAN and Vocational Psychiatric Rehabilitation Programs Provide Complementary Employment Supports

For applicants or employees who are in mental health recovery and struggling vocationally (including family members, friends or professionals who are assisting them), it may be helpful to consider looking...

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12 Jun

Cómo comunicar las discapacidades y las acomodaciones a los compañeros de trabajo

Cómo comunicar las discapacidades y las acomodaciones a los compañeros de trabajo. El Acta para Americanos con Discapacidades prohíbe a los empleadores comunicar a los compañeros de trabajo cualquier información...

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06 Jun

Acomodaciones en el empleo: desde el estilo casero al estilo gourmet

Acomodaciones en el empleo: desde el estilo casero al estilo gourmet Existen acomodaciones en el empleo de todas las formas y todos los tamaños, las hay de naturaleza muy técnica...

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04 Jun

Trending Topics – Nursing Mothers and the ADA

JAN Consultants handle a wide-range of employment inquiries from people all over the country.  Every week there are issues that trend for one reason or another. For example, this week...

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02 Apr

JAN Blog: What Works for Me?

What Works for Me? The JAN Blog is an opportunity for you to share with others your workplace accommodation solutions. JAN receives over 45,000 contacts per year – conversations with...

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