Preplacement evaluation: thriving within the ADA guidelines

1. The intent of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) is to remove barriers against those with known disabilities and to require reasonable accommodation to enable qualified employees to perform a job. The ADA is not meant to facilitate those with covert preexisting conditions in setting up workers' compensation and disability claims. 2. Essential job functions are physical and mental requirements for a job that are developed by the supervisor and the occupational health department. These functions should be included with the posting of any position. 3. Preplacement evaluation requirements: essential job functions that are used to determine what is included in the assessment; employee capability statement (with reasonable accommodation); and conditional offer of employment pending a satisfactory post-offer evaluation prior to beginning the job.