Last week the EEOC released an updated technical assistance document explaining that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies not only to employees but also to applicants with visual disabilities.

“The ADA became law 33 years ago today and continues to provide vital protections for workers, including those with visual disabilities,” said EEOC Chair Charlotte A. Burrows. “Providing reasonable accommodations is an employer’s responsibility. Workers who have vision impairments, including limited or low vision, should be provided the resources needed to succeed.”

The document addresses how an employer should handle safety concerns about applicants and employees with visual disabilities and how an employer can ensure that no employee is subject to harassment or retaliation because of a visual disability or request for accommodation.

Recent EEOC news releases about individuals who are blind or have vision impairments or other     vision-related conditions and sought reasonable accommodations as applicants or employees are available in the EEOC’s newsroom. All of your questions are answered here.

More information about disability discrimination is available on EEOC’s disability discrimination landing page: https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc-disability-relatedresources.

For a resource on workplace accommodations, visit https://askjan.org/