work accommodations delayed

[Anonymous]

Hello, I made a post a few weeks ago about requesting accommodations so I can do documentation digitally instead of by hand due to a physical disability with my hand. My work location isn't in an office, as I work in the client's apartment. It's technically a group house for adults with disabilities, but there are only two adults we support. Anyway, the printer doesn't have ink, and without ink, I can't print out the documents. The owner of the non-profit said she will check with someone else on how best to capture my notes and get back to me. That was 10 days ago. For the last few weeks, I have had to do documentation by hand. I think for this coming weekend (I only work weekends), I will fill out all of the forms at home and print them/ type them with my type writer before I go to work. I would potentially be lying when I write the notes because they ask for things like the client's mood, what we did, etc etc, but so far every shift has been the same. The clients have been in a good mood, I help them with x tasks which need x prompts, we go for a walk in the community every day. The notes are easy to fill out. I don't want to continue filling them out manually because it takes so long, and honestly, it's humiliating because my handwriting is always clear. The supervisor hasn't been treating me equally, I feel. She said things like wow, why do you write like that? It's as if she thinks I am dumb. I have had this happen to me a lot after I had a stroke and it sucks. I don't think they intentionally mean to hurt me. Things slip out. My caseworker for voc rehab said she doesn't think we need to open a case because they have agreed to give me accommodations. My work has a history of delaying other stuff so I have a feeling they will ignore this accommodation.


Another option would be to store a typewriter at the apartment because it would allow us not to rely on expensive printer ink. I already have a typewriter someone gave me, and the ink is $4 for around (4) of them. It's so cheap! I don't know if I should bring the typewriter and leave it there or send an email and say this would be my preference. Using a typewriter is easier because I don't need to scan PDF forms and figure out how to fill them out. It's a long process to do all of that. With the typewriter, I feed the forms already printed out by my employer into the typewriter and fill them out pretty fast. It's better for my eyes to because it's not a screen. I have really bad neck pain so sitting and typing for long periods puts a lot of strain on my body.

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry you’re still dealing with this. If a typewriter would provide the accommodation that you need, that seems like a fine recommendation. While your employer doesn’t have to give you the exact accommodation you ask for, there’s no reason to not suggest this.

[Anonymous]

I think you solved this problem - bring the typewriter this weekend.
Leave it there or bring it home with you, if you are not sure if it will be safe.
Do not fill out paperwork in advance and lie.
I think you have a great solution, no need to send an email to say this is what you are doing - just bring the typewriter.

[Anonymous]

I’m not sure how old you are or how much experience you had, but my general career advice to you is to just solve the problem. You have a great solution. Let your supervision know your problem and the solution you figured out and just keep moving. A lot of times in life you’re going to need to figure out your own accommodations. And as a bonus, your supervisors will think highly of you if you’re proactive

[Anonymous]

Bring the typewriter.

[Anonymous]

Buy the printer ink and ask for reimbursement is another solution

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure how old you are or how much experience you had, but my general career advice to you is to just solve the problem. You have a great solution. Let your supervision know your problem and the solution you figured out and just keep moving. A lot of times in life you’re going to need to figure out your own accommodations. And as a bonus, your supervisors will think highly of you if you’re proactive

OP here. The supervisor can't approve anything and she isn't usually at work when I am at work. I am usually by myself until we are relieving the next staff person. If she see that the notes are typed she's going to ask if it was approved by the owner of the company.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Buy the printer ink and ask for reimbursement is another solution

op here. i don't want to do this because there's a chance they won't pay for the ink which is $40. if this were so easy the ink should already be replaced. the company is very cheap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you solved this problem - bring the typewriter this weekend.
Leave it there or bring it home with you, if you are not sure if it will be safe.
Do not fill out paperwork in advance and lie.
I think you have a great solution, no need to send an email to say this is what you are doing - just bring the typewriter.

op here. it's very very heavy. it's not like bringing a laptop to work. it's probably 20 pounds and I don't drive to work so I can't store it in my car.

[Anonymous]

You've found 3 excuses to not solve the problem. Figure out how to get this done! You can do this. Maybe call or email the supervisor right now. Or the owner, if you think that is better. You've got this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello, I made a post a few weeks ago about requesting accommodations so I can do documentation digitally instead of by hand due to a physical disability with my hand. My work location isn't in an office, as I work in the client's apartment. It's technically a group house for adults with disabilities, but there are only two adults we support. Anyway, the printer doesn't have ink, and without ink, I can't print out the documents. The owner of the non-profit said she will check with someone else on how best to capture my notes and get back to me. [/b[b]]That was 10 days ago. For the last few weeks, I have had to do documentation by hand. I think for this coming weekend (I only work weekends), I will fill out all of the forms at home and print them/ type them with my type writer before I go to work. I would potentially be lying when I write the notes because they ask for things like the client's mood, what we did, etc etc, but so far every shift has been the same. The clients have been in a good mood, I help them with x tasks which need x prompts, we go for a walk in the community every day. The notes are easy to fill out. I don't want to continue filling them out manually because it takes so long, and honestly, it's humiliating because my handwriting is always clear. The supervisor hasn't been treating me equally, I feel. She said things like wow, why do you write like that? It's as if she thinks I am dumb. I have had this happen to me a lot after I had a stroke and it sucks. I don't think they intentionally mean to hurt me. Things slip out. My caseworker for voc rehab said she doesn't think we need to open a case because they have agreed to give me accommodations. My work has a history of delaying other stuff so I have a feeling they will ignore this accommodation.


Another option would be to store a typewriter at the apartment because it would allow us not to rely on expensive printer ink. I already have a typewriter someone gave me, and the ink is $4 for around (4) of them. It's so cheap! I don't know if I should bring the typewriter and leave it there or send an email and say this would be my preference. Using a typewriter is easier because I don't need to scan PDF forms and figure out how to fill them out. It's a long process to do all of that. With the typewriter, I feed the forms already printed out by my employer into the typewriter and fill them out pretty fast. It's better for my eyes to because it's not a screen. I have really bad neck pain so sitting and typing for long periods puts a lot of strain on my body.

OP has already suggested two solutions and the person who can approve them hasn't gotten back to her. Going out and paying for $40 printer ink isn't a good solution and either is bringing a heavy typewriter to work. Both are sh** solutions.

[Anonymous]

Send an email to the owner right now, stating you are going to bring the typewriter and use it for notes. If they have any objection, please let you know by the weekend, otherwise you will assume you are clear to proceed.
Then when supervisor asks if you have approval, you can say yes.
I know the typewriter is heavy, I am a collector. That said, I would put it on a rolling suitcase, bring it with me when I clock in, and leave with it when I clock out.
You seem to be arguing with every option, so just want to say - don’t let perfect get in the way of good. I think you have a very good solution here. Stop finding fault & move forward with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Send an email to the owner right now, stating you are going to bring the typewriter and use it for notes. If they have any objection, please let you know by the weekend, otherwise you will assume you are clear to proceed.
Then when supervisor asks if you have approval, you can say yes.
I know the typewriter is heavy, I am a collector. That said, I would put it on a rolling suitcase, bring it with me when I clock in, and leave with it when I clock out.
You seem to be arguing with every option, so just want to say - don’t let perfect get in the way of good. I think you have a very good solution here. Stop finding fault & move forward with it.

You think it's a good solution to lug a 20 pound machine into work everyday? That's absurd and most likely it will end up breaking because type writers are fragile. A good solution would be to LEAVE IT at work, but op wants to get permission to do that because her work is located at someone's home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you solved this problem - bring the typewriter this weekend.
Leave it there or bring it home with you, if you are not sure if it will be safe.
Do not fill out paperwork in advance and lie.
I think you have a great solution, no need to send an email to say this is what you are doing - just bring the typewriter.

op here. it's very very heavy. it's not like bringing a laptop to work. it's probably 20 pounds and I don't drive to work so I can't store it in my car

So if OP takes the bus to work she needs to roll this thing on and off the bus? No thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Send an email to the owner right now, stating you are going to bring the typewriter and use it for notes. If they have any objection, please let you know by the weekend, otherwise you will assume you are clear to proceed.
Then when supervisor asks if you have approval, you can say yes.
I know the typewriter is heavy, I am a collector. That said, I would put it on a rolling suitcase, bring it with me when I clock in, and leave with it when I clock out.
You seem to be arguing with every option, so just want to say - don’t let perfect get in the way of good. I think you have a very good solution here. Stop finding fault & move forward with it.

To be fair to the OP, her work hasn't approved any of the options. I wouldn't go out and buy ink for a printer. She's already most likely an hourly employee who doesn't make a lot of money. Her work should be supplying ink for the printer and what sort of workplace doesn't have a working printer anyway?