I need accommodations at work suddenly

[Anonymous]

Don't give up without even asking. You shouldn't have to give up a job you like that is close to home because of a disability. That is the point of the law. The employer can deny if it's an undue burden, but they also have to engage in an interactive process with you to figure out other accommodations. It may be that going back to the digital software they were using is too expensive, and they'll say it's an undue burden, but that's where you can discuss workarounds. One easy example would be that instead of writing on the same paper as your coworkers, you type yours and staple it to their paper. Or maybe there is a cheaper software that lets you scan their paper, write on it via your ipad, and convert it to a PDF to be printed for the next person. Another option is if it's not a lot of writing, you dictate it and someone else writes. There's loads of ways to deal with this.

This is the kind of disability that your employer should be willing and able to work with, since it doesn't go to your ability to do the job at all. You're perfectly capable of the job, you just have a small issue that can be worked around.

Are you sure that you need to register with the vocational rehab center for this? Is it possible to get a doctor's letter more quickly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't give up without even asking. You shouldn't have to give up a job you like that is close to home because of a disability. That is the point of the law. The employer can deny if it's an undue burden, but they also have to engage in an interactive process with you to figure out other accommodations. It may be that going back to the digital software they were using is too expensive, and they'll say it's an undue burden, but that's where you can discuss workarounds. One easy example would be that instead of writing on the same paper as your coworkers, you type yours and staple it to their paper. Or maybe there is a cheaper software that lets you scan their paper, write on it via your ipad, and convert it to a PDF to be printed for the next person. Another option is if it's not a lot of writing, you dictate it and someone else writes. There's loads of ways to deal with this.

This is the kind of disability that your employer should be willing and able to work with, since it doesn't go to your ability to do the job at all. You're perfectly capable of the job, you just have a small issue that can be worked around.

Are you sure that you need to register with the vocational rehab center for this? Is it possible to get a doctor's letter more quickly?

Op I'm not sure honestly. I haven't seen a psychologist in years. Most likely they would want me to do a new regulation who knows? These things can be so difficult because healthcare is so damn expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't give up without even asking. You shouldn't have to give up a job you like that is close to home because of a disability. That is the point of the law. The employer can deny if it's an undue burden, but they also have to engage in an interactive process with you to figure out other accommodations. It may be that going back to the digital software they were using is too expensive, and they'll say it's an undue burden, but that's where you can discuss workarounds. One easy example would be that instead of writing on the same paper as your coworkers, you type yours and staple it to their paper. Or maybe there is a cheaper software that lets you scan their paper, write on it via your ipad, and convert it to a PDF to be printed for the next person. Another option is if it's not a lot of writing, you dictate it and someone else writes. There's loads of ways to deal with this.

This is the kind of disability that your employer should be willing and able to work with, since it doesn't go to your ability to do the job at all. You're perfectly capable of the job, you just have a small issue that can be worked around.

Are you sure that you need to register with the vocational rehab center for this? Is it possible to get a doctor's letter more quickly?

Op I'm not sure honestly. I haven't seen a psychologist in years. Most likely they would want me to do a new regulation who knows? These things can be so difficult because healthcare is so damn expensive.

Evaluation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't give up without even asking. You shouldn't have to give up a job you like that is close to home because of a disability. That is the point of the law. The employer can deny if it's an undue burden, but they also have to engage in an interactive process with you to figure out other accommodations. It may be that going back to the digital software they were using is too expensive, and they'll say it's an undue burden, but that's where you can discuss workarounds. One easy example would be that instead of writing on the same paper as your coworkers, you type yours and staple it to their paper. Or maybe there is a cheaper software that lets you scan their paper, write on it via your ipad, and convert it to a PDF to be printed for the next person. Another option is if it's not a lot of writing, you dictate it and someone else writes. There's loads of ways to deal with this.

This is the kind of disability that your employer should be willing and able to work with, since it doesn't go to your ability to do the job at all. You're perfectly capable of the job, you just have a small issue that can be worked around.

Are you sure that you need to register with the vocational rehab center for this? Is it possible to get a doctor's letter more quickly?

Op I'm not sure honestly. I haven't seen a psychologist in years. Most likely they would want me to do a new regulation who knows? These things can be so difficult because healthcare is so damn expensive.

Op here. Thank you so much by the way. This is extremely helpful. I have been in tears today over this. It's not just this disability but I have a whole bunch more that impact my home life. Some days I wish I could go through the day without a special diet or accommodation. It's exhausting. Since I have kids I have to constantly explain why I need forms in PDF and 99 percent of people don't get it. My husband is too busy to help and he could do the work in 5 mins instead of 2 hours for me. I am always holding it together and it's hard to admit I need help. He knows I have this condition. Sometimes I will give him the forms and he still won't fill them out. It feels insensitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't give up without even asking. You shouldn't have to give up a job you like that is close to home because of a disability. That is the point of the law. The employer can deny if it's an undue burden, but they also have to engage in an interactive process with you to figure out other accommodations. It may be that going back to the digital software they were using is too expensive, and they'll say it's an undue burden, but that's where you can discuss workarounds. One easy example would be that instead of writing on the same paper as your coworkers, you type yours and staple it to their paper. Or maybe there is a cheaper software that lets you scan their paper, write on it via your ipad, and convert it to a PDF to be printed for the next person. Another option is if it's not a lot of writing, you dictate it and someone else writes. There's loads of ways to deal with this.

This is the kind of disability that your employer should be willing and able to work with, since it doesn't go to your ability to do the job at all. You're perfectly capable of the job, you just have a small issue that can be worked around.

Are you sure that you need to register with the vocational rehab center for this? Is it possible to get a doctor's letter more quickly?

Op I'm not sure honestly. I haven't seen a psychologist in years. Most likely they would want me to do a new regulation who knows? These things can be so difficult because healthcare is so damn expensive.

Op here. Thank you so much by the way. This is extremely helpful. I have been in tears today over this. It's not just this disability but I have a whole bunch more that impact my home life. Some days I wish I could go through the day without a special diet or accommodation. It's exhausting. Since I have kids I have to constantly explain why I need forms in PDF and 99 percent of people don't get it. My husband is too busy to help and he could do the work in 5 mins instead of 2 hours for me. I am always holding it together and it's hard to admit I need help. He knows I have this condition. Sometimes I will give him the forms and he still won't fill them out. It feels insensitive.

I'm sorry you have to deal with that. That sounds really tough. I can see how it can impact you in all sorts of ways. I get it because at my former job I was the one telling staff we need to make reasonable accommodations even if it's just for one person and I would sit there turning our 100 page forms into fillable pdf because no one else cared to learn.

I think, because your employer is small, you could try just talking to them about your concerns. I would come to them with ideas. I listed some before. You mentioned medications. Perhaps you could type up a checklist if the medications and just check off the ones administered. Same thing with the activities if they are always similar. Whatever you can do think of that means less writing. If they are OK with you typing maybe it wouldn't be that expensive to pay for just one laptop and I assume there is at least one printer there.

About the evaluation maybe you could show them the one you have for another state or something from your college.

It really is silly that they are the ones who want to go backward in time and create this problem!

[Anonymous]

Oh, OP, my heart goes out to you! I have a feeling your employer will give up this practice soon enough, as there is a reason most places, even small ones, have moved in the other direction.

One idea that might work at home, too: could you print out your section of the forms on label sheets and then apply them to the form? MS Word has a bunch of templates that are synced up with the standard mailing label sizes (from Avery, etc.). Not a perfect solution, and hopefully in the medium/long term your employer can come up with something better, but might reduce some of your immediate distress.

Hang in there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d start looking for another job. I work in an industry with 3 shifts & notes, & I cannot see going back to handwritten notes, for any reason. So if your company is choosing to go back to that, it would make me suspect leadership’s ability to make good long term decisions for the company. I would worry that this is an indication that they will not be around for long.
Also, if they are doing it to cut costs, that makes me suspect they will not be keeping up with fair wage increases. And finally, they are taking away tech skills, so you are adding less to your resume/less marketable for your next job.
For those reasons, I’d take this as a sign to start job hunting.

Op here. I am so bummed because it's otherwise perfect. It's 5 mins from my house. The schedule is perfect as it gives me the flexibility to be at the bus stop for my kids. Living with disabilities is such a pain sometimes. It's already hard enough to be the default parent.

You have no idea what is possible until you ask. For God's sake do not go quitting your job without even asking about this. If the company is 15 employees or larger they have an ADA obligation, and they may like you enough to want to do some work to meet it!

Sorry, but an employer does not have to adopt an electronic note keeping system as a reasonable accommodation.

[Anonymous]

I’ve had accommodation letters written by my PCP as well as my rheumatologist. Maybe you could see if your pcp could write a letter after seeing your eval.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d start looking for another job. I work in an industry with 3 shifts & notes, & I cannot see going back to handwritten notes, for any reason. So if your company is choosing to go back to that, it would make me suspect leadership’s ability to make good long term decisions for the company. I would worry that this is an indication that they will not be around for long.
Also, if they are doing it to cut costs, that makes me suspect they will not be keeping up with fair wage increases. And finally, they are taking away tech skills, so you are adding less to your resume/less marketable for your next job.
For those reasons, I’d take this as a sign to start job hunting.

Op here. I am so bummed because it's otherwise perfect. It's 5 mins from my house. The schedule is perfect as it gives me the flexibility to be at the bus stop for my kids. Living with disabilities is such a pain sometimes. It's already hard enough to be the default parent.

You have no idea what is possible until you ask. For God's sake do not go quitting your job without even asking about this. If the company is 15 employees or larger they have an ADA obligation, and they may like you enough to want to do some work to meet it!

Sorry, but an employer does not have to adopt an electronic note keeping system as a reasonable accommodation.

Of course not, but there may be a lower impact solution.

OP, I have an idea for you, because I am extremely old. How about a typewriter? Not a printer. A typewriter would let you line each form up and put the text exactly where you want it. It sounds like you should own one for general forms at home, anyway!

The one I used for my college applications let you type a sentence or two ahead even…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d start looking for another job. I work in an industry with 3 shifts & notes, & I cannot see going back to handwritten notes, for any reason. So if your company is choosing to go back to that, it would make me suspect leadership’s ability to make good long term decisions for the company. I would worry that this is an indication that they will not be around for long.
Also, if they are doing it to cut costs, that makes me suspect they will not be keeping up with fair wage increases. And finally, they are taking away tech skills, so you are adding less to your resume/less marketable for your next job.
For those reasons, I’d take this as a sign to start job hunting.

Op here. I am so bummed because it's otherwise perfect. It's 5 mins from my house. The schedule is perfect as it gives me the flexibility to be at the bus stop for my kids. Living with disabilities is such a pain sometimes. It's already hard enough to be the default parent.

You have no idea what is possible until you ask. For God's sake do not go quitting your job without even asking about this. If the company is 15 employees or larger they have an ADA obligation, and they may like you enough to want to do some work to meet it!

Sorry, but an employer does not have to adopt an electronic note keeping system as a reasonable accommodation.

Of course not, but there may be a lower impact solution.

OP, I have an idea for you, because I am extremely old. How about a typewriter? Not a printer. A typewriter would let you line each form up and put the text exactly where you want it. It sounds like you should own one for general forms at home, anyway!

The one I used for my college applications let you type a sentence or two ahead even…

Op here omg this is brilliant

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d start looking for another job. I work in an industry with 3 shifts & notes, & I cannot see going back to handwritten notes, for any reason. So if your company is choosing to go back to that, it would make me suspect leadership’s ability to make good long term decisions for the company. I would worry that this is an indication that they will not be around for long.
Also, if they are doing it to cut costs, that makes me suspect they will not be keeping up with fair wage increases. And finally, they are taking away tech skills, so you are adding less to your resume/less marketable for your next job.
For those reasons, I’d take this as a sign to start job hunting.

Op here. I am so bummed because it's otherwise perfect. It's 5 mins from my house. The schedule is perfect as it gives me the flexibility to be at the bus stop for my kids. Living with disabilities is such a pain sometimes. It's already hard enough to be the default parent.

You have no idea what is possible until you ask. For God's sake do not go quitting your job without even asking about this. If the company is 15 employees or larger they have an ADA obligation, and they may like you enough to want to do some work to meet it!

Sorry, but an employer does not have to adopt an electronic note keeping system as a reasonable accommodation.

Of course not, but there may be a lower impact solution.

OP, I have an idea for you, because I am extremely old. How about a typewriter? Not a printer. A typewriter would let you line each form up and put the text exactly where you want it. It sounds like you should own one for general forms at home, anyway!

The one I used for my college applications let you type a sentence or two ahead even…

Op here omg this is brilliant

Lol yes this is the same as the brother label maker, you can print out full sentences at whatever width you’d like. And much more portable than a typewriter.

[Anonymous]

There is an app called “explain everything.” You can take a picture of any document, upload it and then type on it. Then save and print. Snap chat would work well too in this situation. Then you can print it out and have your other ppl write on it. I have students with poor handwriting and this is what I have them use. Try it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d start looking for another job. I work in an industry with 3 shifts & notes, & I cannot see going back to handwritten notes, for any reason. So if your company is choosing to go back to that, it would make me suspect leadership’s ability to make good long term decisions for the company. I would worry that this is an indication that they will not be around for long.
Also, if they are doing it to cut costs, that makes me suspect they will not be keeping up with fair wage increases. And finally, they are taking away tech skills, so you are adding less to your resume/less marketable for your next job.
For those reasons, I’d take this as a sign to start job hunting.

Op here. I am so bummed because it's otherwise perfect. It's 5 mins from my house. The schedule is perfect as it gives me the flexibility to be at the bus stop for my kids. Living with disabilities is such a pain sometimes. It's already hard enough to be the default parent.

You have no idea what is possible until you ask. For God's sake do not go quitting your job without even asking about this. If the company is 15 employees or larger they have an ADA obligation, and they may like you enough to want to do some work to meet it!

Sorry, but an employer does not have to adopt an electronic note keeping system as a reasonable accommodation.

Of course not, but there may be a lower impact solution.

OP, I have an idea for you, because I am extremely old. How about a typewriter? Not a printer. A typewriter would let you line each form up and put the text exactly where you want it. It sounds like you should own one for general forms at home, anyway!

The one I used for my college applications let you type a sentence or two ahead even…

Op here omg this is brilliant

Lol yes this is the same as the brother label maker, you can print out full sentences at whatever width you’d like. And much more portable than a typewriter.

Sticking a label on a sheet of paper isn’t nearly as good as actually typing and applying the ink directly onto it. An ol’ fashioned typewriter is what this situation needs. OP, there are several repair/collectible shops in DC that will sell you one. If feasible, bring several blank copies of the form you need to complete. You can see which typewriter is most comfortable to use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d start looking for another job. I work in an industry with 3 shifts & notes, & I cannot see going back to handwritten notes, for any reason. So if your company is choosing to go back to that, it would make me suspect leadership’s ability to make good long term decisions for the company. I would worry that this is an indication that they will not be around for long.
Also, if they are doing it to cut costs, that makes me suspect they will not be keeping up with fair wage increases. And finally, they are taking away tech skills, so you are adding less to your resume/less marketable for your next job.
For those reasons, I’d take this as a sign to start job hunting.

Op here. I am so bummed because it's otherwise perfect. It's 5 mins from my house. The schedule is perfect as it gives me the flexibility to be at the bus stop for my kids. Living with disabilities is such a pain sometimes. It's already hard enough to be the default parent.

You have no idea what is possible until you ask. For God's sake do not go quitting your job without even asking about this. If the company is 15 employees or larger they have an ADA obligation, and they may like you enough to want to do some work to meet it!

Sorry, but an employer does not have to adopt an electronic note keeping system as a reasonable accommodation.

Of course not, but there may be a lower impact solution.

OP, I have an idea for you, because I am extremely old. How about a typewriter? Not a printer. A typewriter would let you line each form up and put the text exactly where you want it. It sounds like you should own one for general forms at home, anyway!

The one I used for my college applications let you type a sentence or two ahead even…

Op here omg this is brilliant

Lol yes this is the same as the brother label maker, you can print out full sentences at whatever width you’d like. And much more portable than a typewriter.

Sticking a label on a sheet of paper isn’t nearly as good as actually typing and applying the ink directly onto it. An ol’ fashioned typewriter is what this situation needs. OP, there are several repair/collectible shops in DC that will sell you one. If feasible, bring several blank copies of the form you need to complete. You can see which typewriter is most comfortable to use.

OP here. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Is it a lot of writing? Could also get stamps for commonly used words / set of letters. Or agree with others could just type up what you need to fill out, then print and cut and paste the text onto the physical forms.