Disability Accommodations in California
What is Public Disability Accommodation? They are changes that occur in the workplace which then allows an employee who is disabled to do his/her job. These changes will allow them to get the same opportunity in the Division of Workers’ Compensation and use the services provided.
The disability accommodations are available for persons who use the DWC services which will also include Disability Evaluation Unit, Information, and Assistance Unit and Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board.
Examples of Reasonable and Non-Reasonable Accommodation
Reasonable accommodations can be provided by the Division of Workers’ Compensation after taking various factors into consideration. Since each person’s case is different; what will be provided will vary. What can be provided include the following:
- Audiotape recording
- Assistive listening device
- Magnifiers
- Ergonomic furniture
- Sign language interpreters among many more
Your request must first be considered before you can be offered any assistance. Those that are not considered are personal aids such as live person assistance. No one can come in to meet your personal needs.
How to Apply for Disability Accommodation
There is a form which you will have to fill out when making your request. DWC form 5 which are for the “Request for Accommodations by Persons with Disabilities” is then mailed or faxed to the coordinator in charge. One can also call the district office disability accommodation coordinator. The last option is to make a request to the coordinator who is in charge of the State of California.
Information Needed
Before one can make any application, there is important information that must be provided for consideration. For the case of disability accommodations, you will have to explain your disability and what assistance you might need. The other information needed is the due date that you might need the assistance. It’s important to always make your request early enough to avoid 11th-hour rushes. The accommodations could be available but since your request came late; you may end up losing it.
Eligibility for More than One Accommodation
Separate applications are made when you are in need of at least one accommodation. As long as your application is received and acknowledged, the coordinator will let you know when you will have it. Make sure to be keen when stating the duration in which you will be using the assistance.
For those who have successfully secured their accommodations, they should arrive earlier for the hearing so as to obtain them in time.
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