Model Accommodation Policy

reachability, along with the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society and lawyers from Nova Scotia law firms, have developed a model accommodation policy for people with disabilities who work in the legal profession.

Our goal is to have this policy, or parts of it, voluntarily adopted by law firms across the province.

The model accommodation policy gives law firms and their employees a place to start when they talk about how to level the playing field, so that employees with disabilities are given equal opportunities to excel at their jobs.

 

What is disability accommodation?

When someone has a disability, there may be barriers that prevent that person from doing their job as effectively as possible.  The goal of disability accommodation is to eliminate those barriers in a way that works for both the employer and the employee.

For example, someone who uses a wheelchair will need a ramp at the main entrance of a building in order to have access that is equal to someone who can use the stairs.  Likewise, someone who suffers from clinical depression may require a different work schedule from someone who does not.

Disability accommodation isn’t about special treatment: it’s about fairness.  To use the examples above, someone in a wheelchair or someone with clinical depression may be perfect for their job, but if accommodation adjustments aren’t made to put them on an equal playing field, their employer won’t ever be able to benefit from the full extent of their talents.

 

What is a Model Accommodation Policy?

An accommodation policy is a document that lays out four things: first, an employer’s commitment to accommodating disability; second, the employer’s responsibilities in accommodating for disability; third, the employee’s responsibilities if they expect their disability to be accommodated; and finally, how the employer and employee can reach an agreement about an accommodation that works for everyone.

A model accommodation policy is an accommodation policy that is openly available to the public, and that employers can look to when they make rules about accommodation in their workplace.  An employer can decide to adopt parts of the model policy, or they can adopt the whole thing.

 

Why is a Model Accommodation Policy important?

It’s important that there’s a fair and well thought-out model policy, so that employers have a good foundation when they want to put an accommodation policy in place, but they don’t know where they should start.

Because we believe that most employers want to treat their employees fairly, and help them be as productive in their jobs as possible, we want to help ensure that it’s easy for employers and employees to discuss disability accommodation.  If there is an easily accessible model policy that employers can adopt, starting that discussion becomes much easier and less intimidating for all parties involved.

It’s also important because it publicly demonstrates an employer’s commitment to fairly accommodating employees with disabilities.  This is good for employee morale, good for demonstrating community leadership, and good for attracting potential clients from the one-in-five Nova Scotians who self-identify as living with a disability.

 

How do I get a copy of the Model Accommodation Policy?

Click here to download the model accommodation policy.

 

How do I get involved?

If you are a lawyer, partner or Nova Scotia law firm employee who is interested in providing feedback on the model accommodation policy, or if you have interest in having the finished version potentially adopted by your firm, please contact reachAbility Legal Services by calling (902) 429-5878 or emailing legal@reachability.org.