How do I go about accommodating hidden disabilities?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines disability as an impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity and requires that reasonable accommodation be provided, if necessary, for all impairments that meet the definition of disability, whether hidden or visible. In many cases, accommodations can be worked out by discussing the problem with the employee. If, however, you are stuck for a solution, the President's Committee Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is a good resource to turn to. JAN is a toll-free service that provides advice to businesses and individuals on workplace accommodations and the employment provisions of the ADA. To reach JAN, dial 800-526-7234 (Visual or TDD service).

Here is an example of how JAN helped accommodate a hidden disability.

Situation: A high school guidance counselor with attention deficit disorder was having difficulty concentrating due to the school noise.

Solution: The school replaced the bell on his phone with an electric light bulb that lights up when a call comes in, sound-proofed his office and provided a floor fan for white noise

Cost: Under $600.