ADA Accommodations Are Not Set In Stone

Granting a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not render that accommodation sacrosanct. A case recently decided by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit illustrates two critical reasonable accommodation principles: (1) reasonable accommodations can change as circumstances evolve; and (2) the employer is only required to provide an accommodation that is effective, not necessarily the one preferred by the employee.

Quick Hits

• The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has ruled that reasonable accommodations under the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act may be subject to modification where circumstances change.
• An employer does not need to provide the employee's choice of accommodation, as long as it offers one that effectively enables the employee to perform the essential job functions.