Bemidji State is committed to fostering an accessible and inclusive environment for all employees. Accessibility Services is available to engage in confidential discussions with employees about removing barriers in the workplace and requesting reasonable accommodations. We work collaboratively with employees and university departments to create an environment that respects and values the diverse abilities and contributions of all employees.
Requesting Reasonable Accommodations
At Accessibility Services, we streamline a process to pinpoint access barriers and find suitable accommodations. This ensures that every employee can efficiently fulfill their job responsibilities in a welcoming environment. We understand that each request for accommodations is distinct and we are committed to addressing individual requirements.
If employees have any concerns or needs, they are invited to reach out to Accessibility Services. Initiating a request for accommodations is both optional and confidential. To start, employees can arrange an appointment with our Director, Christian Breczinski.
In addition, please complete the Application for Services in preparation for meeting with Accessibility Services.
When needed, Accessibility Services collaborates with all pertinent departments to gather essential job function details. This helps us determine the best accommodations and assess if any request might pose significant challenges for the university. We offer advice, resources and assistance throughout, ensuring a collaborative approach to finding the best solutions. In some cases, departments might proactively remove accessibility barriers, making specific accommodation requests unnecessary.
Reasonable Accommodations
A reasonable accommodation refers to modifications or adjustments made to the work environment, job responsibilities or policies and practices to enable an individual with a disability or medical condition to perform their essential job functions. The purpose of a reasonable accommodation is to provide equal employment opportunities and remove barriers that may prevent individuals with disabilities from fully participating in the workplace.
Reasonable accommodations are specific to each individual and depend on the nature of their disability or medical condition. Examples of reasonable accommodations may include:
- Physical Modifications: Making structural changes to the workplace, such as installing ramps, elevators or accessible restrooms to improve accessibility for employees with mobility impairments.
- Assistive Technology: Providing specialized equipment or software, such as screen readers, speech recognition software or ergonomic furniture, to enhance job performance and ensure equal access to information and technology.
- Flexible Work Arrangements: Allowing adjustments to work schedules, telecommuting options or job-sharing arrangements to accommodate individuals with chronic health conditions or other disabilities that may require flexibility.
- Job Restructuring: Modifying or redistributing non-essential job tasks to accommodate an employee’s functional limitations while ensuring essential job functions are still performed.
- Communication Assistance: Providing interpreters, captioning services or assistive listening devices to ensure effective communication for employees who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
- Policy Modifications: Adjust certain policies or procedures, such as attendance policies or dress codes, to accommodate employees with disabilities or medical conditions.
It is important to note that reasonable accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis, taking into account factors such as the individual’s specific limitations, the nature of the job and the resources available to the university. The interactive process, involving discussions between the employee and the appropriate university departments, helps identify and implement the most suitable reasonable accommodation.
The goal of providing reasonable accommodations is to create an inclusive work environment that allows employees with disabilities to perform their job duties effectively and participate fully in all aspects of university employment.