From the US Environmental Protection Agency web site:
Many people tend to think of disabilities in absolutes: can see
or can't, can hear or can't. However, disabilities take a variety
of forms and many times may not be readily apparent. It is
estimated that approximately 54 million Americans have some type of
disability. Also, disabilities may not be permanent. For example:
An employee may need temporary accommodation after surgery or while
recovering from an accident.
Some common disabilities include:
Visual Disabilities (Blind, Low-Vision, Color-Blind, etc...)
Persons identified as blind or having low vision all fit the
definition of legal blindness. The term legal blindness covers many
aspects of the use of eyesight. It covers individuals that may need
to hold print material closer to read or a person that has vision
to see where he or she is going, but not to read regular printed
documents or the average computer screen. The person's usable
vision and whether he or she can read print, needs to use speech
output or Braille will need to be assessed. This category also
includes dimness, haziness, color blindness, tunnel vision,
cataracts or eyesight problems related to aging.
Auditory Disabilities (Deaf and Hard of Hearing)
Choosing appropriate communication accommodations for employees,
who are deaf or hard of hearing, is an important step towards
breaking communication barriers in the workplace. It is important
to recognize that deaf or hard of hearing individuals have
different levels of hearing loss and their communication
capabilities vary. An individual's hearing can range from mild,
moderate, severe or total loss of hearing. A person might hear
sounds, but has difficulty or is unable to comprehend spoken words.
Many Deaf people prefer the use of a certified Sign Language
interpreter. Some Hard of Hearing people prefer CART services, or
"Computer-Assisted Real-Time captioning." The important thing to
remember is that accommodations are as unique as each person, and
require detailed discussions with the employee.
Speech Disabilities
A person may have a speech disability for a variety of reasons that
affects that person's ability to communicate verbally. Speech
disabilities may include difficulty with voice strength, fluency,
aphasia which may alter how words are articulated or complete
voicelessness. Persons with Parkinson's Disease, Cerebral Palsy, or
who have suffered a stroke or have an auditory disability are often
affected with a speech disability. The accommodations for speech
disability will require an assessment and detailed discussions with
the employee.
Dexterity Disabilities
Most individuals who have dexterity disabilities have limited or no
use of their upper or lower extremities. Individual's can have
difficulty with coordination and manual dexterity associated with
arthritis, stroke, carpal tunnel syndrome, cerebral palsy, or
Parkinson's disease, as well as recovering from broken bones. The
individual's accommodation is based on the range of motion or
ability to move the arm and hand forward, to the side and above the
head, the fine and gross dexterity of the fingers such as the
ability to hold small and large items and ability to use writing
and typing instruments. An evaluation should be done of the current
workstation configuration as well as identification of the tools
and materials the individual needs to access on a daily basis.
Cognitive Disabilities
Cognitive disabilities cover a wide range of needs and abilities
that vary for each specific person. Conditions range from person
having a serious mental impairment caused by Alzheimer's disease,
Bipolar Disorder or medications to non-organic disorders such as
dyslexia, attention deficit disorder, poor literacy or problems
understanding information. At a basic level, these disabilities
affect the mental process of knowledge, including aspects such as
awareness, perception, reasoning, and judgment. Simply put, the
Center on Human Policy at Syracuse University defines cognitive
disability as: "a disability that impacts an individual's ability
to access, process, or remember information."
Mobility Disabilities
Motor impairment that limits the mobility of individuals vary for
each person. A person may require the use of wheelchairs, canes,
crutches, braces, or prostheses which can hinder access to E&IT
controls on kiosks or other closed products.