(Original webcast in December 2020, updated March 2022) Whether you provide telework as a benefit of employment or approve it as a form of accommodation, the way we work at home is often vastly different than working at the worksite. As COVID-19 has disrupted most of the world’s workplace environments, it's important that we pay attention to our home work physical environment. Participants will gain knowledge about principles of universal design and practical strategies to make your physical environment more productive and safer. Topics such as environmental aspects, controls and tools, workstations, and computers, will be highlighted during the presentation.
Presenters:
Presentations
Slides - Ergonomics for Teleworkers
Transcripts
Transcript - Ergonomics for Teleworkers
One year after the COVID-19 pandemic forced businesses to adopt a new normal, we reflect on the many adjustments made at work to keep everyone, including individuals with disabilities, working. The pandemic situation required employers to abandon a conventional perspective on where, when, and how work is performed and to adopt flexible policies and practices to meet business objectives. This session will offer ADA and job accommodation lessons learned along with practical strategies for engaging in the interactive accommodation process to address evolving workforce needs.
Presenters:
-
Tracie DeFreitas
, Program Leader, Director of Training, Services, and Outreach
- Teri Weber, SVP, Spring Consulting Group
Presentations
Slides - March 2021 - ADA and Accommodation Lessons Learned - COVID-19 Edition
Transcripts
Transcript - March 2021 - ADA and Accommodation Lessons Learned - COVID-19 Edition
Teri Weber, ACI is a Partner with Spring Consulting Group. She has over 10 years of experience in health and welfare plan strategy, design, pricing, and implementation. She also works with absence management programs, including disability, family medical leave and leave of absence tracking. Her areas of expertise have allowed her to work with diverse employers and vendors to streamline processes and programs to meet the needs of insurers, administrators, employers and employees. Teri is on the Board for the New England Employee Benefits Council (NEEBC) and recently served as lead editor for the Disability Management Employer Coalition’s (DMEC) Return to Work Program Manual. Prior to joining Spring, Teri worked with Watson Wyatt, Buck Consultants and AON Consulting. In addition she was an Account Manager with Health Direct, Inc. Teri earned a BS at the University of Connecticut and a MBA at the University of Massachusetts. She holds an ACI designation and is a licensed broker in the states of MA and CT.
Issues surrounding service and emotional support animals in the workplace continue to be confusing to both employers and employees with disabilities. This webcast will provide an overview of the most frequent questions JAN gets regarding service and emotional support animals and ADA information and practical guidance for addressing them.
Presenters:
Presentations
Slides - April 2021 - Service and Emotional Support Animals in the Workplace
Transcripts
Transcript - April 2021 - Service and Emotional Support Animals in the Workplace
Handouts
Additional Q+A - April 2021 - Service and Emotional Support Animals in the Workplace
May is National Mental Health Month. Join consultants Melanie and James as they discuss challenging accommodation scenarios in the workplace when employees with mental health conditions need assistance. Discover creative and effective modifications employers can provide to help maintain productive employees with diverse needs. Bring questions relating to the challenging situations you face in your workplace.
Presenters:
Presentations
Slides - May 2021 - Q&A with the Cog/Psych Team Challenging Mental Health Scenarios
Transcripts
Transcript - May 2021 - Q&A with the Cog/Psych Team Challenging Mental Health Scenarios
Emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual and augmented reality (XR), will shape the workplace of the future. They will change how organizations hire, train, and support employees, including those with disabilities.
Presenters:
-
Anne E. Hirsh
, Director of Collaborations, Evaluation, and Reporting
- Bill Curtis-Davidson, Co-director of PEAT
- Martez Mott, Ph.D., Senior Researcher, Ability Group, Microsoft Research
- Tina Park, Ph.D., Methods for Inclusion Research Fellow at the Partnership on AI
Presentations
Slides - May 20 2021 - JAN PEAT GAAD Webinar
Transcripts
Transcript - May 20 2021 - JAN PEAT GAAD Webinar
This session, produced in collaboration with JAN and the Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT), will introduce the potential impact of emerging tech on accommodations. Participants will learn how employers and HR professionals can help plan for an accessible workplace of the future, including the procurement of accessible technologies and potential accommodation needs of people with disabilities. PEAT, funded by the Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor, will interview technology leaders to find out how AI and XR will change the way we work and what these technologies could mean for the employment of people with disabilities.
This event takes place on Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD).
Speaker Bios:

Bill Curtis-Davidson is a Co-Director and Sr. Consultant on Emerging Tech Accessibility at PEAT. In this role, he works to advance the accessibility of emerging workplace technologies, including XR and AI, to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities. He partners with the disability community, tech companies, and the public to advance adoption of inclusive design and promising practices for tech accessibility. He serves on the External Advisory Board of the GA Tech Human-Computer Interaction Degree Program.

Martez Mott is a Senior Researcher in the Ability Group at Microsoft Research. His research is focused on designing, implementing, and evaluating intelligent interaction techniques that improve the accessibility of computing devices for people with diverse motor and sensory abilities. His current research focuses on identifying and overcoming accessibility barriers embedded in the design of virtual and augmented reality systems. Martez is passionate about improving diversity in the CS and HCI communities. He co-chaired the 2020 CHI Mentoring Workshop (CHIMe), is serving on the steering committee for CHIMe 2021, and co-founded the Black Researchers @ Microsoft Research group. Martez received his Ph.D. in Information Science from the Information School at the University of Washington. Prior to attending UW, he received his B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science from Bowling Green State University.

Tina M. Park is currently a Methods for Inclusion Research Fellow at the Partnership on AI, developing evidence-based methodologies for incorporating a more diverse range of stakeholders in the design and development of artificial intelligence. Prior to joining PAI, Tina has led efforts to cultivate supportive intellectual spaces for scholars of color at Brown University and nationwide. She has presented at top international conferences in her field such as the American Sociological Association, the Social Science History Association, the Population Association of America, and the Society for the Study of Social Problems, the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning.
Public safety workers are defined as employees who protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. These front-line workers have a difficult and often dangerous job; having a disability can make these difficult jobs that much harder. As June celebrates National Safety Month, join us June 8th to discuss accommodation options specifically tailored to the difficulties people with disabilities face when employed in public safety occupations.
Presenters:
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Lisa Mathess
, Principal Consultant, ADA Specialist
-
Matthew McCord
, Senior Consultant – Motor Team
- Tatum Storey, Consultant - Motor Team
Presentations
Slides - June 2021 - Accommodating Public Safety Workers with Disabilities
Transcripts
Transcript - June 2021 - Accommodating Public Safety Workers with Disabilities
Join the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and JAN as representatives provided participants with the latest developments in the application of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the workplace, some practical tips for compliance, and answers to tough ADA questions.
Presenters:
-
Tracie DeFreitas
, Program Leader, Director of Training, Services, and Outreach
- Jeanne Goldberg is a Senior Attorney Advisor in the Office of Legal Counsel at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Handouts
Speaker Biography - Jeanne Goldberg
Presentations
Slides - July 2021 - ADA Update
Transcripts
Transcript - July 2021 - ADA Update
Are you wondering about what’s new in the world of assistive technology (AT)? Are you curious about trends related to accommodating with equipment and technology? Do you simply have a love of gadgets? Join JAN Lead Consultant Teresa Goddard and Senior Consultant Matthew McCord for an introduction to new and improved products and a discussion of how to apply them as workplace accommodations. Using real JAN case examples, we will discuss new accommodation approaches to a variety of accommodation challenges with a focus on new sensory technologies.
Presenters:
Presentations
Slides - August 2021 - AT Update
Transcripts
Transcript - August 2021 - AT Update
Reasonable accommodation and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) title I compliance issues can be challenging and complex. Do you have questions about trending accommodation and ADA issues? Can you benefit from expert guidance on navigating the interactive process? Ask JAN! We can help. JAN Principal and Lead Consultants will field on-demand questions and offer tips and best practices related to current accommodation and ADA trends and complexities. Questions may be submitted during the event or in advance at Training@AskJAN.org.
Presenters:
Presentations
Slides - October 2021 - Ask JAN Expert Q+A
Transcripts
Transcript - October 2021 - Ask JAN Expert Q+A
Join JAN’s Cognitive/Neurological Team consultants Melanie Whetzel and James Potts for a discussion about returning to work during the pandemic. We will consider the pressing issues of anxiety, fear, and safety, telework and other accommodations, the cognitive side effects of recovering from COVID-19, and more. This training will be a live question-and-answer session but will include JAN accommodation examples to prompt thinking about the topics and generate questions. Submit your questions during the live event or in advance at Training@AskJAN.org.
Presenters:
Presentations
Slides - November 2021 - Return to Work After COVID-19 – Focus on Mental Health and Cognitive Limitations
Transcripts
Transcript - November 2021 - Return to Work After COVID-19 Focus on Mental Health and Cognitive Limitations
Join JAN Lead Consultants Lisa Mathess and Teresa Goddard to explore workplace accommodations and AT options to keep your employees with autoimmune disorders safe and successful in the workplace. We will explore accommodations for a variety of limitations arising from autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, gastrointestinal diseases, Guillain-Barre syndrome, multiple sclerosis, and more. From fatigue to fine motor impairment and cognition to vision loss we will share real life accommodations for your consideration. Since autoimmune disorders can affect individuals differently, we will cover a range of common limitations include difficulty with activities of daily living, body fatigue and weakness, cognitive limitations, temperature sensitivity, gross and fine motor limitations, speech impairments, and vision issues. We will also discuss accommodation approaches tailored for roles in a variety of industries including administrative services, information technology (IT), manufacturing, transportation, and healthcare.
Presenters:
Presentations
Slides - December 2021 - Accommodation Solutions for Autoimmune Disorders
Transcripts
Transcript - December 2021 - Accommodation Solutions for Autoimmune Disorders
The job accommodation and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance bar has risen to expert level, requiring a higher level of competence, ADA analysis, and engagement in the interactive accommodation process. Level up your ADA and accommodation game by learning practical ways to master complex accommodation and ADA situations involving engaging in the interactive process, addressing performance issues, modifying workplace policies, managing leave and attendance, and providing reasonable accommodations in a post pandemic world. JAN Principal Consultant Tracie DeFreitas will share expert guidance on accommodation, ADA, and interactive process strategies to help your team win the game.
Presenters:
Presentations
Slides - January 2022 - Next-Level Accommodations
Transcripts
Transcript - January 2022 - Next-Level Accommodation and ADA Challenges
Stay at Work/Return to Work (SAW/RTW) initiatives are designed to retain valued employees and enhance productivity. These initiatives can include temporary or permanent job accommodations such as modified scheduling, job restructuring, transitional work, and reassignment. Various employment laws can interplay when navigating SAW/RTW situations, making it challenging for employers to know best business practices. Join JAN Consultants for a discussion about lessons learned and practical Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidance related to various RTW/SAW issues.
Presenters:
Presentations
Slides - February 2022 - Stay at Work Return to Work
Transcripts
Transcript - February 2022 - Stay at Work Return to Work
Handouts
Q and A - February 2022 - Stay at Work Return to Work
(Original webcast in December 2020, updated March 2022) Whether you provide telework as a benefit of employment or approve it as a form of accommodation, the way we work at home is often vastly different than working at the worksite. As COVID-19 has disrupted most of the world’s workplace environments, it's important that we pay attention to our home work physical environment. Participants will gain knowledge about principles of universal design and practical strategies to make your physical environment more productive and safer. Topics such as environmental aspects, controls and tools, workstations, and computers, will be highlighted during the presentation.
Presenters:
Presentations
Slides - Ergonomics for Teleworkers
Transcripts
Transcript - Ergonomics for Teleworkers
(Rescheduled from 3/10)
Executive functions are high-level mental processes or abilities that influence and direct more basic abilities like attention and memory. Join JAN Cognitive/Neurological Team consultants Melanie Whetzel and Alexis Popa for a discussion about accommodation solutions that address limitations affecting attention, time management, memory, hyperactivity/impulsivity, and getting to work on time. This training will be a live question and answer session but will include JAN accommodation examples to prompt thinking about the topics and generate questions about the difficulties you or your employees are experiencing on the job that involve attention, meeting deadlines, productivity standards, and more. Submit your questions during the live event or in advance at Training@AskJAN.org.
Presenters:
Presentations
Slides - March 2022 - Accommodation Solutions for Executive Functioning Deficits
Transcripts
Transcript - March 2022 - Executive Functioning
Join JAN’s Motor Team consultants Matthew McCord and Julie Davis in exploring workplace accommodations to assist your employees with gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. We will explore accommodations that are commonly beneficial for individuals with a variety of limitations that can arise from GI disorders. From ways to increasing access to a restroom, strategies for managing workplace stress, considerations for ensuring supervisors treat these needs with dignity, and more.
Presenters:
Presentations
Slides - April 2022 - Accommodation Solutions for Gastrointestinal Disorders
Transcripts
Transcript - April 2022 - Accommodation Solutions for Gastrointestinal Disorders
Likely a lesser-known fact, reproductive disorders affect millions of Americans each year. Maybe this is partly true because we don’t talk about, or take seriously enough, the impact of these types of disorders on work. What we do know is that job-related limitations associated with reproductive disorders can often be addressed by reasonable accommodations provided under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and/or related laws. This training will include information about common reproductive disorders, limitations, accommodations, and ADA considerations related to such impairments as endometriosis, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), fibroids, polycystic ovary syndrome, cervical and ovarian cancers, menopause, and infertility. Pregnancy-related job accommodation issues will also be discussed.
Presenters:
Presentations
Slides - May 2022 - Accommodation and ADA Considerations: Reproductive Disorders and Pregnancy
Transcripts
Transcript - May 2022 - Accommodation and ADA Considerations - Reproductive Disorders and Pregnancy
Many employers understand it’s not their responsibility to furnish personal use items, those items needed both on and off the job, as a form of reasonable accommodation. But are there times a personal use item may evolve into a work-related item or accommodation? Perhaps. What about if an employee chooses not to use personal use items, do employers still have to consider reasonable accommodations? Perhaps. Join JAN Motor Consultants as they go over some common and not so common issues when deciphering between what is considered a personal use item and what is considered a reasonable accommodation in this JAN training.
Presenters:
Presentations
Slides - June 2022 - Personal Use or Reasonable Accommodation: What’s What?
Transcripts
Transcript - June 2022 - Personal Use or Reasonable Accommodation: What's What?
Handouts
Follow-Up Questions and Answers - June 2022 - Personal Use or Reasonable Accommodation: What’s What?
Attend this ADA Update training to learn from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) about the latest developments in the application of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the workplace, some practical tips for compliance, and answers to tough ADA questions.
Presenters:
-
Tracie DeFreitas
, Program Leader, Director of Training, Services, and Outreach
- Jeanne Goldberg - Senior Attorney Advisor, Office of Legal Counsel, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Handouts
Presentations
Slides - July 2022 - ADA Update
Transcripts
Transcript - July 2022 - ADA Update
Are you wondering about what’s new in the world of assistive technology (AT)? Are you curious about equipment and technology-related accommodation trends? Do you simply have a love of gadgets? Attend this training for an introduction to new and improved products and a discussion of how to apply them as workplace accommodations. JAN Consultants will discuss new accommodation approaches to a variety of accommodation challenges.
Presenters:
Presentations
Slides - August 2022 - AT Update
Handouts
Handout - August 2022 - AT Update Product Links
Handout - August 2022 - AT Update Follow-Up Q&A
Transcripts
Transcript - August 2022 - AT Update
(Rescheduled from Sept. 8)
Join JAN Cognitive/Neurological Team experts Melanie Whetzel and Alexis Popa for an informative and interactive session on sleep disorders. Employees and employers alike contact JAN for assistance combating sleep disorders – whether the issue is too much sleep and the inability to wake-up, falling asleep uncontrollably, sleeping on the job, or the total lack of sleep that compounds cognitive difficulties. This session is designed with specific JAN examples that will prompt thinking and help generate attendee questions.
Presenters:
Presentations
Slides - September 2022 - Accommodation Solutions for Sleep Disorders
Transcripts
Transcript - September 2022 - Accommodation Solutions for Sleep Disorders
Help your organization create a disability-inclusive workplace culture and meet diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) goals. Join this collaborative training brought to you by JAN and the Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN). Together, we’ll explore the core components of a disability-inclusive workplace and discuss practical strategies, developed with input from a range of employers with exemplary track records in disability employment, that can help any organization become disability-inclusive.
Presenters:
-
Tracie DeFreitas
, Program Leader, Director of Training, Services, and Outreach
- Ellice Switzer, EARN Workplace Disability Inclusion Associate
Presentations
Slides - October 2022 - Building a Disability-Inclusive Organization
Transcripts
Transcript - October 2022 - Building a Disability-Inclusive Organization
Ellice Switzer, EARN Workplace Disability Inclusion Associate
Ellice is an Extension Associate with the K. Lisa Yang and Hock E. Tan Institute on Employment and Disability. She provides content development, training and technical assistance for EARN. As an Extension Associate, she provides national technical assistance and training on topics related to disability and employment, and U.S. disability policy. Her areas of focus include employer practices to support workforce disability inclusion, demand-side strategies to improve employer engagement among disability service providers and evidence-based practices to support post-school success for youth with disabilities.
Join us for a timely and informative training about veterans with cognitive and mental health impairments and common accommodations that may be needed for success at work. Consultants James Potts and Melanie Whetzel will talk through real-life accommodation situations and solutions. As always, there will be plenty of time for questions.
Presenters:
Presentations
Slides - November 2022 - Providing Reasonable Accommodations to Veterans with Disabilities
Transcripts
Transcript - November 2022 - Providing Reasonable Accommodations to Veterans with Disabilities
Ask JAN! We can help. During this live webcast, JAN consulting staff will discuss trending job accommodation and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) topics and answer attendee questions related to navigating the accommodation process.
Presenters:
Presentations
Slides - January 2023 - Ask JAN! Q&A
Transcripts
Transcript - January 2023 - Ask JAN! Q&A
Sometimes the best accommodation approach is to implement an accommodation with a heartbeat! This training will cover the ins and outs of implementing supports and services as job accommodations. Heartbeat accommodations involve support provided by a human or animal and often include solutions like a service animal, job coach, or interpreter, but also can be accommodations like an emotional support animal, mentor, or support person.
Presenters:
Presentations
Slides - February 2023 - Accommodations with a Heartbeat
Transcripts
Transcript - February 2023 - Accommodations with a Heartbeat
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in millions of people now experiencing chronic health conditions related to their initial COVID infection. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, post-COVID conditions, known as Long COVID, include a wide range of ongoing health issues that last for months or longer. Symptoms affect people in various ways, including the ability to work. Long COVID may be a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) so employers need to ensure accommodation processes and practices are effective in retaining much-needed workers. Learn about the impact of Long COVID in the workplace, including recent findings from the Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC), and receive tips for navigating the accommodation process, accommodation solutions, and practical resources from JAN and the Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN).
Presenters:
-
Tracie DeFreitas
, Program Leader, Director of Training, Services, and Outreach
- Terri Rhodes, Chief Executive Officer, Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC)
- Bryon Bass, Senior Vice President Workforce Absence and Disability Practice Leader, Sedgwick
- Susanne Bruyere, Co-Director and Co-Principal Director, Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN)
Handouts
Presentations
Slides - March 2023 - WYSK About Long COVID in the Workplace
Transcripts
Transcript - March 2023 - WYSK About Long COVID in the Workplace
What is neurodiversity? What disabilities and characteristics best describe someone who fits under this umbrella term? Is being neurodiverse a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? This JAN training focuses on neurodiversity in the workplace. Learn what this concept means and how individuals who are neurodiverse may be covered under the ADA. We’ll discuss disclosure, accommodations, performance, conduct, and more.
Presenters:
- Melanie Whetzel , Principal Consultant, Team Lead
Presentations
Slides - April 2023 - Accommodation Solutions for Neurodivergent Workers
Transcripts
Transcript - April 2023 - Accommodation Solutions for Neurodivergent Workers
Join JAN Motor Team Consultants as they discuss accommodation ideas for fine motor limitations such as grip and grasping, reaching, and mousing and keyboarding. Many fine motor limitations can stem from an acute injury or medical condition or result from a lifelong impairment. Accommodation solutions, including assistive technologies, will be explored to address fine motor limitations relevant to working in various industries.
Presenters:
- Julie Davis, Consultant - Motor Team
- Matthew McCord, Senior Consultant - Motor Team
Presentations
Slides - May 2023 - Accommodation Solutions for Fine Motor Limitations
Transcripts
Transcript - May 2023 - Accommodation Solutions for Fine Motor Limitations
Sometimes limitations related to a disability can contribute to performance or conduct issues at work. What steps are appropriate when a disability is, or seems to be, causing a performance or conduct issue? When may an employer raise the issue of an employee’s disability as part of a discussion about performance or conduct? This training will explore how performance and conduct issues factor into the accommodation equation. Learn when a medical inquiry in response to poor performance or a conduct violation may be appropriate under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), what do when it’s believed that an employee with a disability poses a direct threat, and better business practices when engaging in the accommodation process.
Presenters:
- Lisa Mathess, Principal Consultant, ADA Specialist
- Melanie Whetzel, Principal Consultant, Team Lead
- Tracie DeFreitas, Program Leader, Director of Training, Services, and Outreach
Presentations
Slides - June 2023 - Performance and Conduct
Transcripts
Transcript - June 2023 - Performance and Conduct
Join representatives from JAN and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for a discussion about the latest developments in the application of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the workplace, to learn strategies for implementing a "beyond compliance" approach to engaging in the accommodation process, and to receive answers to tough ADA and accommodation questions.
Presenters:
- Tracie DeFreitas, Program Leader, Director of Training, Services, and Outreach
- Jeanne Goldberg, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Presentations
Slides - July 2023 - ADA Update
Transcripts
Transcript - July 2023 - ADA Update
Are you wondering about what’s new in the world of assistive technology (AT)? Are you curious about equipment and technology-related accommodation trends? Do you simply have a love of gadgets? Attend this training for an introduction to new and improved products and a discussion of how to apply them as workplace accommodations. While this year we will focus on vision and hearing related accommodation challenges and products, as always, a variety of AT options will be shared.
Presenters:
- Matthew McCord, Senior Consultant – Motor Team
- Teresa Goddard, Lead Consultant – Assistive Technology Services
- Jose Gonzalez Lopez, Consultant — Sensory/Motor Teams
Presentations
Slides - August 2023 -JAN AT Update
Transcripts
Transcript - August 2023 - JAN AT Update
Join JAN Consultants as they discuss when employees with substance use disorders are covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), when employers may need to provide accommodations, what those accommodations typically consist of, and when employees can be disciplined for their use of drugs or alcohol. Examples will be used to illustrate discussion points. As always, attendee questions are welcome.
Presenters:
- James Potts, Senior Consultant - Cognitive/Neurological Team
- Melanie Whetzel, Principal Consultant, Team Lead
- Linda Batiste, Director of Publications and Services
Presentations
Slides - September 2023 - JAN Substance Use Disorder
Transcripts
Transcript - September 2023 - JAN Substance Use Disorder