Ergonomics for One

In July 1990, former President George Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Under this act discrimination against the estimated 43 million Americans who have disabilities is illegal. Title I, which became effective in July 1992, prohibits such discrimination in the workplace, requiring that employers provide qualified persons with disabilities equal access to employment. This means that the employer may need to modify the job, the workstation, or the workplace to enable the worker to complete the essential functions of the job. Such modifications are known as reasonable accommodations. A reasonable accommodation seeks to bridge the gap between the requirements of the job and the capabilities of the worker with a disability. It requires that a fit be achieved between the workplace and the worker that demands a great deal of expertise in ergonomics. Individuals who accomplish these ergonomic solutions are known as rehabilitation engzneers. In this introductry article, I will introduce the field of rehabilitation engineering as an ergonomics specialty. In a subsequent issue I will address the concept of reasonable accommodation, define and categorize such accommodations, and demonstrate the role of the ergonomist in implementation.