Americans with Disabilities Act Toolkit

ADA Toolkit

Employee Disability Accommodations

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted to prevent discrimination against individuals with disabilities in various aspects of life, including employment. An individual with a disability is defined under the law as “a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment.”

In the context of employment, individuals with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodations that will enable them, as employees, to perform the essential functions of their position. A reasonable accommodation is defined as a modification of either job duties or work environment such that the employee can perform their essential job functions. This protection also extends to applicants for employment as well.

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is committed to providing a workplace where all employees can be successful. This includes providing reasonable accommodations in order for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities. The Disabilities in Employment Coordinator (DEC) in the Department of Human Resources is responsible for UW-Milwaukee’s compliance with the employment provisions of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).

For Current Employees

All employees at UW-Milwaukee with a disability, regardless of classification, may be eligible for reasonable accommodations in their position.

Due to the fact that the needs of a particular employee and the accommodation(s) they seek are unique and determined on a case-by-case basis, any questions should be directed to the HR Compliance Officer, Kurt Hennemann, at rommel@uwm.edu, or (414) 251-5597.

If you are an employee in need of a leave of absence due to a medical condition, please consult the Human Resources Business Partner for your School, College, or Division (Client Group Assignments), or the Family and Medical Leave Act Toolkit.

For reference, please see the UWM policy on Reasonable Accommodations and request for accommodation form below:

For Supervisors

It is important for Supervisors to understand their role in the accommodation process. If you are a Supervisor and have questions or concerns about one of your employees regarding a disability or request for accommodation, please contact the HR Compliance Officer, Kurt Hennemann, at rommel@uwm.edu, or (414) 251-5597.

Supervisors can also obtain instructive information by reading the Manager’s Guide on Disability Accommodations from the UW System.

For Applicants

If you are seeking to apply for an open position at UWM, or have already done so, and you require an accommodation in either the application or interview process, please contact the individual designated as the contact for the particular position you are applying for.

For Students

If you are a student currently enrolled at UWM and are employed by the University and are in need of accommodations in your job duties, please see the For Current Employees section above.

If you are a student and are in need of accommodations for your course work, please visit the Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) online, or in person in Mitchell Hall, Room 112. You can also contact ARC at archelp@uwm.edu, or (414) 229-6287.

For Attendees of University Programming

As a public institution, any UWM sponsored programming must be made accessible to the general public. If you are a member of the public seeking accommodations for a program put on by or sponsored by UWM, please contact the individual designated as the point of contact for the program you are looking to attend.

More ADA Information and Resources

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