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Job Accommodations

SIG-14 Provides a means for sharing solutions to problems in the provision of job accommodations and is a resource in the area of employment issues.




SIG 14 Mission

The Job Accommodation special interest group exists to provide communication and networking opportunities for assistive technology professionals who provide job accommodation services.

During the meeting at RESNA 2006, SIG 14 and SIG 12 (Rural Rehabilitation) members voted to combine our two special interest groups to pool our efforts. The focus of our combine groups will be in providing job accommodations and ergonomic services in all environments.

Current Activities

SIG 14 sponsors many activities, mostly during the annual RESNA conference, but we are interested in participating in events other than those at the conference.

Currently, SIG 14 has a website and members only listserv. We also sponsor the Don Ross invited guest lecture series, and a Job Accommodation show and tell session at the annual conference. There is also an open house to help increase interest and recruit new members.

Mentoring Program

Right now I am working on putting together a mentoring program to pair professionals new to RESNA, assistive technology, and job accommodations with the highly experienced experts in our group. We are hoping to match people in the same geographical areas or in similar professional areas. Currently, I have three volunteer mentors, two from the mid west and one from the north east. It would be great if we could get some volunteers in the west and the south (aside from me) as well. If you are interested in mentoring, please email me at mpapp@netzero.net.

If you are new to the field of assistive technology and job accommodations, and would like a mentor, please contact me.

SIG 14 Conference Agenda!!!

Follwing is an agenda of SIG 14 and SIG 14 related activities at the RESNA conference.

Saturday June 16

1:30 PM to 5:30 PM - Ergonomic Measurements for People with Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Paul Schwartz and Gary Downey

Many assistive technology practitioners are expanding their practices beyond the disability arena to focus on mainstream ergonomics and musculoskeletal disorder intervention and prevention. This workshop will focus on common ergonomic measurement tools used by ergonomists. Measurement tools can provide objective data necessary when justifying changes to employers

and funding sources. Most of these tools are designed for workers from a typical population to prevent musculoskeletal injuries; however a few may also have application in workstation design for people with disabilities. Some of the tools covered in this workshop include the NIOSH

Lifting Equation, Liberty Mutual Tables (Snook’s tables), RULA, REBA, OWAS, and  Anthropometric tables. Web based ergonomic measurement resources will also be discussed.

 Sunday June 17

 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM – First Timers Meeting

 1:30 PM to 2:45 PM - Tools of the Trade: Job Accommodation Assessment Techniques

– moderated by Ronny Gaal

Speakers: Jeff Symons, Therese Willkomm,

The Job Accommodations and Ergonomics Show and Tell session will feature several interesting case studies, tips, tools, equipment and other useful information. This session provides an informal way to share experiences and ideas and generates interest in job and worksite accommodations among the large RESNA audience. This session will allow for in-depth audience participation and discussion with the presenters and designers.

Service providers who deal with modifications to worksites and educational settings are the primary audience for this session. However, it is also of interest to current and prospective employers of people with disabilities, policy makers, funding sources, etc.

3:15 PM to 4:30 PM - Job Accommodation and Ergonomics Show and Tell
– moderated by Michael Papp

The Job Accommodations and Ergonomics Show and Tell session will feature several interesting case studies, tips, tools, equipment and other useful information. This session provides an informal way to share experiences and ideas and generates interest in job and worksite accommodations among the large RESNA audience. This session will allow for in-depth audience participation and discussion with the presenters and designers.

Service providers who deal with modifications to worksites and educational settings are the primary audience for this session. However, it is also of interest to current and prospective employers of people with disabilities, policy makers, funding sources, etc.

 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM – SIG Open House/Wine and Cheese reception
            - Stop by the SIG 14 table to meet and greet other SIG-14 members.

 Monday June 18

8:00 AM to 9:00 AM – SIG-14 Meeting

Come by the SIG-14 business meeting and find out what SIG-14 is up to and where it is going.

10:30 AM to 11:45 AM - Don Ross Invited Lecture – Early Deployment of Reasonable Accommodations for State Government Workers
- speaker: Andy Winnegar; NM Technology Assistance Program

The presentation will be on the progress made by a reasonable accommodation early intervention team that was with the expertise of the New Mexico Technology Assistance Program, The Southwest Disability Law Center, Information Technology Specialists, and rehabilitation and ergonomic engineers through collaboration of numerous state agencies in New Mexico. The New Mexico Legislature recently passed new Legislation that is intended to provide adequate accessibility; increase support services; develop employment services and working partnerships among state agencies and the private sector to ensure the effective use of resources.

 Tuesday June 19

8:45 AM to 10:00 AM - Workshop: Jobsite, Ergonomic & Environmental Accommodation: Works in Progress
– moderated by Ronny Gaal, PE, ATP, RET, Rehab Engineer, San Francisco State University, RET Project

The “Tools of the Trade” session will highlight job accommodation field assessment techniques used by different assistive technology professionals. This session will allow presenters to share their assessment tips and techniques and will generate interest in job and ergonomic evaluations within the RESNA audience. Presenters from different organizations and professional backgrounds will discuss the techniques they are currently using to evaluate people on the worksite. Each presentation will be followed by in depth audience participation and discussion with the presenters. The primary audience will be service providers who do job and worksite evaluations, but anyone who does field evaluations should be interested.

If you would like to take an active role in our SIG, please contact Michael Papp at mpapp@netzero.net

SIG 14 Organization

SIG 14 Leadership consists of a Chair and Vice Chair. These positions are elected bi-annually at the RESNA conference during the SIG 14 meeting. Generally the vice chair steps up to become chair at the end of their term.

SIG 14 Chair
Michael Papp
Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services
PO Box 19888
Homewood, AL 35219
800-671-6837 ext 4460
Term expires June 2008

SIG 14 Vice Chair
Therese Wilkomm
Term expires June 2008

Additional information: For more information, go to the RESNA website at www.resna.org