An industrial model for assisting employers to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990

Innovative opportunities exist for occupational therapists to expand their role and assume a more active role in helping employers comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) (Public Law 101-336). This article proposes an industrial model to facilitate earlier employer involvement and compliance with Title I of the ADA. It introduces the process for implementation of the Industrial Model of Rehabilitation Management (developed by the second author), defines the therapist's role, presents a clinical example, and discusses weaknesses and strengths of the model. Therapists are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Industrial Model proposed to assist the employer's implementation of the ADA.