Each individual has different needs and preferences. People who use wheelchairs may require workplace accommodation. Use this guide as a reference.
Each individual has different needs and preferences. People who use wheelchairs may
experience some of the limitations discussed below, but will experience them differently
with varying degree of limitations. Wheelchairs differ in size and maneuverability. Be
aware that not all people who use wheelchairs will need accommodations to perform
their jobs and many others may only need a few accommodations. While the individual
may explain any necessary accommodations, it is also up to the employer to ensure the
workplace suits the individual’s needs.
Questions to Consider:
1. What limitations is the employee who uses a wheelchair experiencing?
2. How do these limitations affect the employee and the employee’s job
performance?
3. What specific job tasks are problematic as a result of these limitations?
4. What accommodations are available to reduce or eliminate these problems? Are
all possible resources being used to determine possible accommodations?
5. Has the employee who uses a wheelchair been consulted regarding possible
accommodations?
6. Once accommodations are in place, would it be useful to meet with the employee
who uses a wheelchair to evaluate the effectiveness of the accommodations and
to determine whether additional accommodations are needed?
7. Do supervisory personnel and employees need training regarding employees
who use wheelchairs?
Accommodation Ideas:
Activities of Daily Living:
People who use wheelchairs may need assistance with personal care while at work.
Although an employer is not responsible for providing the personal care, an employer
may be responsible for certain accommodations to enable an employee who uses a
wheelchair to meet his/her personal care needs. The following are examples of some of
these personal care needs and possible accommodations:
- Allow the person to have a personal attendant at work to assist with toileting,
grooming, and eating - Allow the person to take periodic rest breaks for repositioning, toileting, or grooming needs
- Provide flexible scheduling and allow use of sick leave for medical care
- Allow the person to bring a service animal into the workplace
Workstation Access:
People who use wheelchairs may encounter a variety of obstacles at their workstations
depending on their limitations. The following are examples of these obstacles and
possible accommodations:
- Height adjustable desk or table for a person who cannot work comfortably at
an existing desk - Accessible filing system for a person who cannot reach upper and lower file
drawers in a vertical file cabinet - Office supplies and frequently used materials on most accessible shelves or
drawers for a person who cannot reach upper and lower shelves and drawers - Page turners and book holders for a person who cannot manipulate paper
- Writing aids for a person who cannot grip a writing tool
- Accessible office machines, such as copiers and faxes, so a person using a
wheelchair can access them from a seated position - Voice activated speaker phone, large button phone, automatic dialing system,
voice mail system, and/or headset, depending on the person’s limitations and
preferences - Alternative access for computers such as speech recognition, Morse code
entry, trackballs, key guards, alternative keyboards, and/or mouth sticks,
depending on the person’s limitations and preference
Work-site Access:
People who use wheelchairs may encounter obstacles before reaching their
workstations. The following are examples of these obstacles and possible
accommodations:
- Flexible scheduling so a person who cannot drive can access public
transportation - Accessible parking for a person who does drive
- Accessible route of travel from the parking lot into the building
- Accessible restrooms, lunchroom, break room, etc.
- Accessible route of travel to the person’s workstation
- Work from home if the person cannot get to the work-site
Travel for Work:
People who use wheelchairs may encounter obstacles before reaching their worksite.
The following are examples of possible accommodations:
- Accessible transportation
- Accessible lodging
- Accessible meeting/training site
- Medical supplies/wheelchair repair at travel destination
- Personal attendant care at travel destination
Wheelchair Etiquette:
- When addressing a person who uses a wheelchair, do not lean on the
wheelchair unless you have permission to do so. A wheelchair is part of an
individual’s personal space. - Do not assume a person using a wheelchair needs assistance. Always ask
before providing assistance. If your offer of assistance is accepted, ask for
instructions and follow the instructions given. - When talking to a person who uses a wheelchair, look at and speak directly to
that person, rather than through a companion. - Relax and speak naturally. Do not be embarrassed if you happen to use
accepted common expressions such as “got to be running along” that seem to
relate to the person’s disability. - When talking with a person in a wheelchair for more than a few minutes, use
a chair, whenever possible. This can facilitate conversation. - When giving directions to a person in a wheelchair, consider distance,
weather conditions, and physical obstacles such as stairs, curbs, and steep
hills. - Use proper terminology when referring to a person who uses a wheelchair.
Terms such as “wheelchair bound” or “confined to a wheelchair” are
inappropriate. Using a wheelchair does not mean confinement. - Do not assume that all people who use wheelchairs have the same
limitations. People use wheelchairs for a variety of reasons and have different
limitations and abilities. - If a person who uses a wheelchair has a service animal, do not pet or try to
play with it. A service animal is working and should not be interrupted. - When greeting a person who uses a wheelchair, it is appropriate to offer to
shake hands with that person even if he/she has upper extremity limitations
