A “Situations and Solutions Finder” to make ADA job accommodations easier to provide? Yes, please.

As a thank you to the many readers who provided me with stellar Dallas-area BBQ recommendations, like the one featured above from Hutchins BBQ in McKinney, I’m sharing a tool that the U.S. Department of Labor recently announced to provide workers with disabilities and employers ideas for workplace accommodations.

The “Situations and Solutions Finder” offers examples of workplace accommodations that users of the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) have shared. There are 700 accommodation scenarios for employers and workers with disabilities to explore.

Users can search by keyword, disability, limitation, or occupation. Then, they can filter and save results.

Is it the be-all and end-all? Well, no. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for disabled applicants and employees when requested unless doing so would cause an undue hardship. And, much like no two accommodation situations are exactly alike, there is no exhaustive list of accommodations individuals may seek, or employers must provide.

Indeed, the press release notes that “not all examples of accommodations in the Situations and Solutions Finder may be effective for every person or workplace, as accommodations are unique to each individual.”

However, “common patterns exist to assist employers and workers in assessing options.” And most effective accommodations won’t break the bank. A survey of JAN data from employers between 2019 and 2024 finds that employers can make nearly half of reported accommodations for workers with disabilities at no cost and that the median cost for those that require a one-time expense is $300.

So check out the “Situations and Solutions Finder,” and let me know what you think. In the meantime, I need to figure out how to get Hurtado in Arlington to deliver Brisket and Bacon Burnt Ends to South Jersey.