Overview

Educational professionals must perform a variety of tasks with a high level of skills. In order to perform effectively, teachers with disabilities may require accommodations tailored to both their needs and the requirements of the educational setting. Combining assistive technology-based approaches with policy and schedule-based accommodations can lead to successful outcomes, by avoiding the need for reassignment and preventing unnecessary retirements and career changes. In this presentation we will present data on the costs and benefits of workplace accommodation as well as scenarios from case data in which educators with disabilities were effectively accommodated via various modalities.

Learning Objectives

1. Discuss five real-life workplace accommodations that have been implemented to harness the potential of employees with disabilities who work in educational settings.
2. Identify three common job-related issues for employees with disabilities in educational settings.
3. Participate in a guided demonstration of JAN’s A-Z Lists at https://askjan.org/a-to-z.cfm and use this resource to identify three accommodation solutions.

Strand(s)

Transition and Workplace Accessibility

Target Audience

Accessibility Professional; ADA Coordinator; AT Specialists; Consumers/Individuals with Disabilities; Consultants/Trainers; Educators; Government/Non-Profit Agencies; Occupational Therapists; Rehabilitation Counselor; Speech-Language Pathologists; Transition Coordinator; Vocational Rehabilitation

Experience Level

Intermediate

Primary Life Cycle Addressed

Higher Education

Session Delivery Format

In-person presentation with recording

Course Schedule

This course was given at the ATIA 2024 Conference on Friday, January 26 from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (EST)

Continuing Education Credits

For Satisfactory Completion and Continuing Education information, please visit: ATIA Online Education CEUs

This course is offered for the following CE Provider Credits:
ACVREP; AOTA; ASHA; CRC; IACET
For: 0.10 CEU Units or 1.0 CEU Hours

Speaker/s:

Lisa Mathess

Job Accommodation Network, Principal Consultant

Biography

Lisa Mathess is a Principal Consultant and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Specialist for the Job Accommodation Network (JAN), the leading national source of expert guidance on workplace accommodation and disability employment issues. Lisa is a member of the JAN Leadership team and has served in a consulting role since 2011.Lisa provides expert-level consultation to assist employers and individuals with disabilities with understanding their rights and responsibilities under the ADA, and in identifying accommodation solutions for individuals with various medical impairments, with an emphasis on motor impairments as the Motor Team Lead. As an ADA specialist, Lisa consults with employers, human resources, and legal professionals nationally on ADA compliance issues and engaging in the interactive accommodation process. She works with employers to create inclusive policies and procedures to onboard and advance career opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Lisa writes for JAN on ADA and accommodation topics, presents on ADA and accommodation issues at various national conferences, and provides customized training to JAN audiences and advocacy groups.

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
salary form employment

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: No

Teresa Goddard

Job Accommodation Network (JAN), JAN Lead Consultant

Biography

Teresa Goddard joined the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) staff as a Program Assistant in March 2008, joined the JAN Motor Team as a Consultant in August 2008, and then transitioned to JAN’s Sensory Team. Teresa now provides expert level consultation and team leadership as a Lead Consultant on JAN’s Sensory Team. In this role, Teresa fields questions from employees and employers regarding their rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and assists in identifying accommodation solutions for individuals with sensory impairments. Teresa's professional experience includes work as an Educational Speech-Language Pathologist and as an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) instructor in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, where in addition to classroom teaching, she led continuing education workshops on collaborative instructional techniques and cross-cultural understanding. Teresa earned a Master of Science degree in Speech Pathology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from West Virginia University (WVU). Teresa’s research interests include assistive technology, trauma informed practices, and cross-cultural perspectives on disability services.

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Salary from JAN employment; receive complimentary ATIA registration as a strand advisor

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: Yes
I am a user of assistive technology

Julie Davis, CRC

Job Accommodation Network, Motor Consultant

Biography

Julie Davis joined the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) staff as a Consultant on the Motor Team in July 2021. Julie fields questions from employees and employers regarding their rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and assists in identifying accommodation solutions for employees with motor and mobility impairments. Julie served in the United Sates Army as a military police investigator. She has worked in corrections as an officer and case manager and worked for several years with individuals with developmental disabilities as a case manager and behavior support professional. Julie is certified as a Positive Behavior Support Professional (PBSP). She also has professional experience as an addiction counselor. Julie is passionate about working with individuals with disabilities and improving their quality of life. Julie earned a Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from West Virginia University and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Fairmont State College with an emphasis on Corrections. She is nationally certified by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC).

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Salary from employment

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: No