Working from home may be the career path and reasonable accommodation that could help you succeed in the workplace. Today's blog post explores types of work-from-home jobs and discusses tips on how to talk with an employer about working from home.
Have you been thinking about going to work and wondering how your disability might affect your commute or your access to a workstation or other equipment? According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), working from home or telecommuting may be a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Finding a position that allows you to work from home may help you expand your employment options as you move toward financial independence.
As the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) explains, reasonable accommodations are any changes to a job or workplace that enable an applicant to participate in the application process or an employee to perform essential job functions. Work from home can be considered a reasonable accommodation if it removes any of the following barriers to employment:
If you find any of these issues a barrier to work, then telework may be the opportunity you need to reach your work goals.
If you want to work from home, you may want to consider some of these career options:
If you are working and have found that the worksite includes one or more barriers to your ability to perform your job, you may consider talking with your supervisor, disclosing your disability and requesting an accommodation, like working from home.
Although your employer may be required to provide a reasonable accommodation to help you meet your responsibilities, they aren't required to offer or provide the exact accommodation you request as long as an effective accommodation is offered. In particular, employers are not required to offer a telework option, and you'll need to discuss with your employer whether your tasks can be handled remotely.
Questions you may consider discussing with your employer about the potential option of working from home include:
Learn more about working from home and telework as a reasonable accommodation:
If you're interested in learning more about working from home as a reasonable accommodation, join us for the next WISE webinar on September 25, 3 – 4:30 p.m. ET, My Employment Options will join us to discuss working from home as a path to reaching career goals. We'll also discuss self-employment information and share how Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) program may help you pursue career goals. Register now at choosework.ssa.gov/wise.
Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSI or SSDI) and want to work.
The Ticket program is free and voluntary. It helps people with disabilities move toward
financial independence and connects them with the services and support they need to succeed in the workforce.
To learn more about the Ticket program, call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 866-968-7842 or 866-833-2967 (TTY) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Ask a representative to send you a list of service providers or find providers on your own with the Ticket program Find Help tool.
Contact the Ticket to Work Help Line
Call 1-866-968-7842
1-866-833-2967 (TTY)
M-F 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET
Contact the Ticket to Work Help Line
Call 1-866-968-7842
1-866-833-2967 (TTY)
M-F 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET
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