Workplace Accommodations

HIV and HIV/AIDS related illness varies dramatically from person-to-person. Because of this, accommodation needs will also vary. Some of the more severe illnesses related to HIV and AIDS can cause sensory, cognitive and physical impairments that may require accommodation, while many employees will not require any special accommodation at all. The following list includes some of the impairments that may affect people with HIV/AIDS, and suggestions for accommodating employees with those impairments:

Attendance Issues

• Provide flexible leave for health problems
  
• Provide a self-paced work load and flexible hours
  
• Allow employee to work from home
  
• Provide part-time work schedule
  

Physical weakness and fatigue

• Provide area for rest breaks including place for employee to lie down
  
• Allow employee to perform work while seated instead of standing
  
• Reduce or eliminate physical exertion and workplace stress
  
• Schedule periodic rest breaks away from the workstation
  
• Allow employee to work from home if feasible
  
• Provide an ergonomic workstation that minimizes physical stress
  
• Provide a scooter or other mobility aid if walking cannot be reduced
  
• Provide parking close to the work-site
  
• Install automatic door openers
  
• Make sure materials and equipment are within reach range
  
• Move workstation close to other work areas, office equipment, and break rooms
  
• Install lever style door handles
  
• Clear pathways of travel of any unnecessary equipment and furniture

Vision Impairments

• Provide written information in large print
  
• Change fluorescent lights to high intensity, white lights
  
• Increase natural lighting
  
• Provide a glare guard for computer monitors
  
• Consult a vision specialist particularly with someone who has lost part of or all of their vision
  
• Screen reading software with voice output, for example JAWS.
  
• Large computer monitor
  
• Closed circuit TV monitor that magnifies text
  
• Screen magnification software
  
• Hand-held or desk magnifiers
  
• Task lighting

Difficulty Maintaining Concentration

• Reduce distractions clutter in the employee’s work area
  
• Provide space enclosures or a private office
  
• Allow for use of white noise or environmental sound machines
  
• Allow the employee to play soothing music using a cassette player and headset
  
• Increase natural lighting or provide full spectrum lighting
  
• Plan for uninterrupted work time
  
• Reduce noise with sound absorbent baffles/partitions, environmental sound machines, and headsets
  
• Provide alternate work space to reduce visual and auditory distractions
  
• Allow a flexible work schedule and flexible use of leave time

Medical Treatment

• Provide flexible schedules
  
• Provide flexible leave
  
• Allow employee to work from home
  
• Provide part-time work schedules
  
• Allow a self-paced workload with flexible hours
  

Gastrointestinal complications including severe diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

• Provide restroom breaks as needed
  
• Conduct meetings convenient to restrooms

Cognitive problems including memory loss and confusion.

• Computer software for example Wynn/Wizard & Wynn Reader
  
• Mylar overlays for printed materials to aid employees with dyslexia
  
• Allow extra time to complete tasks
  
• Allow the employee to tape record meetings
  
• Provide type written minutes of each meeting
  
• Use notebooks, calendars, or sticky notes to record information for easy retrieval
  
• Provide written as well as verbal instructions
  
• Allow additional training time
  
• Provide written checklists
  
• Provide environmental cues to assist in memory for locations of items, such as labels, color coding, or bulletin boards
  
• Post instructions over all frequently used equipment