California Workers’ Compensation May Provide Accommodations for Disabled Workers

Hundreds of workers are injured in California workplace accidents each year. Many of these individuals are covered by workers’ compensation, which provides payments to cover medical bills, replaces some of the wages lost during recovery, and gives support for workers who are disabled as a result of their injuries.Not all disabilities take a worker out of the workforce permanently. Many California workers have a disability of some kind, yet can still work full- or part-time with reasonable accommodations. The federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires employers to provide “reasonable accommodations,” and the California Department of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) will help provide “disability accommodations” so that disabled workers can access workers’ compensation services – whether or not the disability was caused by a workplace injury.

For both the ADA and the DWC, whether or not a particular accommodation is “reasonable” depends on the situation and the needs of the injured or disabled person. Often, mobility devices like wheelchairs, walkers, and canes are considered “reasonable.” Devices that help blind individuals understand printed information or help deaf individuals understand spoken information, including interpreters, may also be “reasonable.”

When dealing with accommodations at work, injured individuals should talk to their employers. When working with the DWC to get needed workers’ compensation benefits, individuals can fill out a form or request accommodations in person or by phone at the local DWC office.

Disabilities come in a wide range of forms, but being disabled in no way limits your rights to receive the full amount of workers’ compensation to which you are entitled after an accident. A skilled Van Nuys workers’ compensation attorney at the Kenton Koszdin Law Office can help you every step of the way. Call us today at (888) 438-7734 for a free consultation.