Policy Manual sample

MDT Home Health Care Agency, Inc. C. Qualified handicapped individual. A handicapped individual whose experience, education and/or training enable the person with reasonable accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job. D. Reasonable accommodation. The effort made to make adjustments for the impairment of an employee or applicant by structuring the job or the work environment in a manner that will enable the handicapped individual to perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodation includes, but is not limited to, modifying written examinations, making facilities accessible, adjusting work schedules, restructuring jobs, providing assistive devices or equipment, providing readers or interpreters, and modifying work sites. Agency questions/concerns regarding reasonable accommodations should be directed to the Administrator/Agency Director. 2. Practices: A. Managers and supervisors shall prepare an analysis of jobs within their units which include defining the essential functional elements or tasks as well as the environment in which such activities occur. Such documentation shall be developed with the assistance of the personnel director and shall be reviewed periodically. Documents prepared to utilized for this purpose may be used for other personnel actions. B. In considering the handicapped individual for employment or for promotion or in any other personnel action, the existence of their handicapping condition should not adversely affect a personnel decision. Employment opportunities shall not be denied to anyone because of the need to make reasonable accommodation to the individual’s handicap. C. In considering a handicapped person, it is appropriate to determine the ability of the person to perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation. A request for medical verification of the disability of the person requesting the accommodation may be appropriate. D. Immediate supervisors shall have the authority to make reasonable accommodations (which will not create a financial hardship upon the Agency) for applicants or employees within the work station or work site of the handicapped individual. E. If the employee wishes to challenge a decision of the Agency, he/she should have access to the existing employee grievance procedure. F. An employee and his/her supervisor should periodically monitor the effectiveness of the accommodation. G. Handicapped individuals shall not be afforded a choice of reasonable accommodations. 3. For Persons with Hearing Impairments: A. The Agency will provide a qualified sign-language interpreter for individuals with hearing impairments. The Agency has a list of names of qualified persons willing to interpret for a hearing impaired person needing the service. B. Written materials: All program information will be provided to hearing-impaired persons in writing. Printed materials and writing materials are available. 4. For Persons with Visual Impairments: A. Reader: Staff will communicate the content of written materials concerning benefits, services, rights and responsibilities, and consent to treatment forms by reading them out loud to visually impaired persons. B. Large print materials: The Commission for the Blind will be consulted for assistance when deemed necessary by the Agency Administrator or requested by the visually impaired person. 5. For Persons with Speech Impairments: A. Writing materials will be available in order to facilitate communication of information concerning program services and benefits, rights and responsibilities, and consent to treatment forms. B. A Speech Pathologist will be available for consultation when deemed necessary by the Administrator or requested by the speech impaired person. 6. Handicapped Persons: The Agency offices are structured to accommodate handicapped individuals. An entrance is available to persons in wheelchairs. A handicapped parking space is available. 7. Notice of Nondiscrimination Policy: A. The Agency uses a variety of methods to disseminate its nondiscriminatory policy to staff, patients/clients, community, minority and handicapped groups, and referral sources. B. The policy is posted in the office consistent with other legal notice posting requirements. The policy is also formally part of the Agency’s policies which are reviewed with staff at Home Health Agency Policies A-2