New Jersey companies that have 15 or more employees are generally subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act. This means that they must provide you and other disabled employees with reasonable workplace accommodations. Take a closer look at what a reasonable accommodation is and what you need to do to get one.

Common examples of accommodations for disabled employees

If you have poor eyesight, you may be entitled to a computer that has a voice recognition feature. Employers may need to provide you with a part-time or modified schedule if your disability results in extreme fatigue. The same may be true if you take medication that causes you to become groggy or causes you to fall asleep quickly or unexpectedly. Finally, you may request additional training or supervision if your disability makes it difficult to concentrate or to retain information.

How to obtain an accommodation

To obtain an accommodation, you must disclose the type of disability that you have and provide enough evidence to verify that you’re disabled. However, you are generally not required to release medical records to an employer to prove that an accommodation is necessary.

Often, all you need to provide is a doctor’s note or select documents related solely to the condition that you’re disclosing to your employer. Unless it would create an undue hardship, your employer is required to provide accommodations as soon as possible after you request them.

If your employer refuses to comply with ADA regulations, the company may be in violation of federal employment law. An attorney may be able to help you obtain compensation for lost wages or other damages related to a company’s inability to provide reasonable accommodations. This might be accomplished through a settlement or by taking your case to trial.