FILE:  GAAB

Cf:  GAAA

INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

The Orleans Parish School Board believes that no otherwise qualified person shall, on the basis of disability, be subjected to discrimination in employment, promotion, demotion, transfer, or any employment-related function or process under any program or activity of the Orleans Parish School Board.

The School Board further believes that no student, parent or other citizen with a disability should be denied access to any program or activity where reasonable accommodations may be made without imposing undue financial or administrative burdens or where such modifications would result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of the program or activity.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

The School Board shall make every effort to provide reasonable accommodations for the known disabilities of its employees and/or applicants.  A reasonable accommodation is defined as a modification to the job or work environment that will enable a qualified individual with a disability to enjoy equal employment opportunity.

In general, it is the responsibility of the applicant and/or employee with a disability to inform the School Board that an accommodation is necessary.  This request need not specifically use the term reasonable accommodation, but need only let the School Board know that, because of a medical reason, some adjustment or change is needed in order for the employee to perform his/her job.  If an employee requests an accommodation, and the need for such is not obvious, or if the School Board does not believe that the accommodation is needed, the School Board may request that the employee provide documentation from his/her physician regarding the employee’s functional limitations in order to support the request.  The School Board is not required to provide an accommodation that is primarily for the personal use of the employee.  The School Board further is not required to provide an accommodation that would result in an undue hardship on the School Board.

Requests for a reasonable accommodation shall be in writing.  It is also permissible for another person, such as a friend, family member, or physician, to request an accommodation on behalf of an employee.

The employee who believes that a reasonable accommodation is necessary should report such to his/her immediate supervisor.  The supervisor shall then report the request to the School Board’s human resources manager or his/her designee.  The human resources manager, together with the employee’s immediate supervisor, shall meet with the employee to discuss the request and attempt to identify possible accommodations which could be made in order to allow the employee to perform the essential functions of his/her job.  The School Board may choose the accommodation that is less costly or that is easier to provide.

The initial meeting with the employee and his/her immediate supervisor shall occur as soon as practical, but in no case longer than fifteen (15) days following receipt of the request.  Multiple meetings may be necessary however, before a determination regarding the request can be made.

Following the meeting(s) discussed above, the human resources manager or designee shall render a written decision regarding the request for accommodation, including whether the request is to be granted and how or, if the request is not to be granted, the reasons why.  Such report shall be rendered within a reasonable time following the conclusion of the meeting(s) with the employee and the immediate supervisor, but in no instance shall the report be rendered later than thirty (30) days following the last meeting.

If a decision is made not to grant an accommodation because of an undue hardship, written documentation of the reasons therefore shall be sent to the individual and a copy maintained in the employee’s personnel file.

Any employee who is denied a request for accommodation may grieve such determination as provided in policy GAE, Complaints and Grievances.

Ref:    29 USC 791 (Employment of Individuals with Disabilities)

29 USC 794 (Nondiscrimination under Federal Grants)

42 USC 12101  et seq., (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990)

La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§23:322, 23:323, 23:324

Orleans Parish School Board