Webinar: Mental Illness, Intellectual Disabilities and the ADA

Shipman & Goodwin attorneys Gabe Jiran and Peter Murphy will present the Lorman webinar “Mental Illness, Intellectual Disabilities and the ADA.”

Addressing disabilities in the workplace under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) presents many challenges to employers, especially when dealing with a mental impairment. These challenges cause some employers to accept any condition that an employee claims as a disability, refrain from seeking additional information, and grant any accommodation requested out of a fear of being sued. Employers can be more proactive in managing disabilities in the workplace, however, and this topic will provide tips for addressing disabilities in the workplace, managing the interactive process, obtaining additional information about disabilities, and responding to requests for reasonable accommodation. In addition, you will learn about some of the more complicated aspects of the ADA, such as the concept of a perceived disability and how a union contract may influence the obligations of employers. Finally, the information will tackle one of the most sensitive disability issues confronting employers, mental impairments of employees and how to manage those issues effectively.

Learning Objectives:

• Define a disability and a reasonable accommodation under applicable laws.
• Discuss the parameters of allowable inquiries with your hiring staff and managers.
• Explain what to do when an employee requests an accommodation.
• Identify when an employee may be struggling with a mental impairment, and how you can help.