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Ergonomic Assessments/Worksite Accommodations

Categorized In: Administrative - General Administration - Employer Responsibilities Under the ADA

Approved Date: March 01, 2024

Owner: Holly Enriquez

Purpose: Outline process of requesting ergonomic assessments/accommodations/worksite adjustments for new and current employees.

  • Vocational Rehabilitation will utilize the expertise of the Assistive Technology Partnership (ATP) Technology Specialists to complete ergonomic worksite assessments and to provide an orientation to the ATP program for new employees.
  • Only Supervisors may request ATP to complete an ergonomic assessment for VR staff.
  • All new Nebraska VR employees will receive an ergonomic assessment. 
  • Any VR employee may request disability-related equipment or accommodations through their Supervisor.
  • VR employees with any verified disability may contact their supervisor or the Program Director of Evaluation & Community Integration to discuss possibly applying for services through Nebraska VR regarding disability-related equipment/any accommodations required to maintain employment. The Program Director must refer the staff member to their supervisor to request an Ergonomic Assessment or begin the Interactive Accommodation Process.
  • An NDE Ombudsman is available to provide assistance to any staff member or team in resolving work-related problems.
Who? Does What?
Supervisor

Ergonomic Assessments: New VR Employee, Current VR Employee
Without
 
disability-related equipment/accommodation request:

  1. Requests the area ATP Technology Specialist to complete an ergonomic assessment on a new VR employee during the first week of employment.
  2. Completes the ATP/VR Referral Form to make the referral for an ergonomic assessment.
    •This is the same form used by staff when referring clients to ATP.
  3. Indicates in the Reason for Referral section the referral is for a “new VR employee’s ergonomic assessment".
  4. Requests an ATP program orientation for the new VR employee.
  5. Indicates in the Reason for Referral section if the referral is because “a current staff person needs disability-related equipment/accommodation due to a medical condition or disability” or “in need of a current ergonomic assessment”.
ATP Technology Specialist
  1. Completes the ergonomic assessment.
  2. Emails Ergonomic Assessment Report to the supervisor and the VR Assistant Director.
    •ATP: Attach Non-Cornhusker State Industries (CSI) Justification Form when the items recommended are sold through CSI but the Assistive Technology Specialist is recommending the items be purchased from another vendor.
VR Assistant Director
  1. Reviews the Ergonomic Assessment Report.
  2. Approves pending state office VR fiscal.
  3. Emails the approved Ergonomic Assessment Report to:
  • State Office VR fiscal   
  • Supervisor
  • ATP Technology Specialist
  • Executive Assistant, if needed, for office furniture modifications (**go to the end of this chapter for further details)
State Office VR Fiscal

11. Determines:

    a. what equipment will be ordered by State Office

  • Direct Purchase Orders (DPA)/Purchase Order (PO) created at the State Office will be paid by the State Office
    and
  • The invoice requires the supervisor’s signature.

    b. what equipment will be ordered by the local office

  • DPA created at the local office will be paid by the local office.
Supervisor

Ergonomic Assessments: New VR Employee, Current VR Employee
With 
disability-related equipment/accommodation request:

See #1-#5 above.
ATP Technology Specialist See #6-#7 above.
VR Assistant Director
  1. Reviews the ATP Ergonomic Assessment Report.
  2. Consults, when necessary, with Department of Education Human Resources to determine:
    1) if the supervisor needs to begin the Interactive Accommodation Process when the VR employee has a disability and requesting equipment or an accommodation
    and 
    2) in what capacity a VR employee will be served:
    •in an employer/employee status,
    •as a VR client or
    •as a combination of the above
  3. The Interactive Accommodation Process is outlined in the Employer Responsibilities Under The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) found on VRIS, in the Administration section, under Personnel. Supervisors must contact the VR Assistant Director or NDE Human Resources Office (HR) for assistance before beginning the Interactive Accommodation Process if the process is not part of a Ergonomic Assessment.
Supervisor

Employer/Employee Status, VR Client Status or Combination of Both

  1. Completes the Interactive Accommodation Process.
  2. Emails Interactive Accommodation Process to VR Assistant Director.
VR Assistant Director
  1. Consults with Department of Education Human Resources to determine if:
    • additional information is needed
    • this is an accommodation or a worksite adjustment
    • equipment is provided as employee or VR client status
  2. Notifies employee if additional information is needed.
  3. Notifies:
    • the Supervisor
    • the ATP Technology Specialist
    • Program Director of Evaluation and Community Integration, if appropriateregarding: recommendations from Department of Education Human Resources if this is:
    • an accommodation
    or
    • a worksite adjustment
    and
    • how the employee will be served
  4. Emails employee with recommendations from Department of Education Human Resources if it is:
    • an accommodation

    or
    • a worksite adjustment
    and
    • how the employee will be served
  5. Emails State Office VR fiscal:
    • Ergonomic Assessment
    and
    • approval of the purchase of equipment pending any questions from fiscal if served as an employee.
  6. Coordinates, if being served as a VR client, with:
    • employee
    • Program Director of Evaluation and Community Integration, if appropriate and schedules time with employee for a VR Orientation and paperwork.
State Office VR Fiscal

     10. Determines:
          a. what equipment will be ordered by State Office

           • Direct Purchase Orders (DPA)/Purchase Order (PO) created at the State Office will be paid by the State Office and the invoice will require the supervisor's signature.
           b. what equipment will be ordered by the local office
             • DPA created at the local office will be paid by the local office.

Supervisor

       11. Coordinates set-up of the equipment with the ATP Technology Specialist, if necessary. 

        12. Monitors for a period of time the accommodation making sure it meets the new employee's needs. (Review during Performance Review)

Employee

         13. Shares with supervisor the accommodation has been implemented.

         14. Notifies supervisor immediately if equipment is not working.

         15. Notifies supervisor if there are any issues with the accommodation.

Executive Assistant

**Added information for above:

  1. Completes the State of Nebraska Moving Services – Request for Quote (RFQ).
    Note: Enters due date of quotes on the RFQ.
  2. Sends the RFQ to the supervisor and VR Director in AdobeSign for approval and signature.
  3. Emails the signed RFQ as an attachment to as.movingservicescontractorpool@nebraska.gov and as.installationservicescontractorpool@nebraska.gov
  4. Receives quotes.
  5. After the due date, emails the quotes to the supervisor for bid choice.
  6. Emails as.movingservicescontractorpool@nebraska.gov and as.installationservicescontractorpool@nebraska.gov a bidder has been chosen.
  7. Emails the bid winner with acceptance of the bid mentioning:
    A Purchase Order is being created and approved by DAS;
    • After the bid winner receives the Purchase Order, the bid winner is to:
    a. Contact the staff member to schedule a date/time for the office modifications to be completed;
    b. The staff member must be in the office when the office modifications are being completed.
  8. Emails all bids to fiscal staff requesting a Purchase Order and DAS approval of the bid winner.
State Office VR Fiscal

    After receiving DAS approval and the Purchase Order:

    9.  Emails the Purchase Order to the bid winner mentioning the bidder must:

  • Contact the staff member to schedule a date/time for office modifications to be completed;
  • The staff member must be in the office when the office modifications are being completed.

 

 

 


Approved Date
November 10, 2022 Show this Archived Version
July 28, 2021 Show this Archived Version
October 02, 2018 Show this Archived Version
May 25, 2017 Show this Archived Version
May 25, 2017 Show this Archived Version
June 03, 2016 Show this Archived Version


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