Can my psychological evaluation be used for workplace reasonable accommodations?
First posted: December 11, 2024
Insight Carolinas conducts clinical evaluations, not workplace accommodation evaluations as these are not covered by health insurance. This would involve evaluating the employee/client’s work tasks and functional limitations pertaining to those tasks.
“Reasonable Accommodation” is a legal term defined in the American Disabilities Act, but in practice it must be negotiated between the employee and the employer to determine what kinds of accommodations can be made to allow work to continue while accounting for the employee’s disability. The employee is not required to even disclose what the condition is, nor can the employer demand a diagnosis. The employee may be required to substantiate that they have symptoms of a condition. That is where the provider could sign a form verifying a diagnosis was given.
Psychologists and therapists are not trying to create hurdles but must remain within the legal and ethical bounds of the type of evaluation or treatment that was conducted. It is clinical not vocational. A workplace evaluation includes review of the employee’s job requirements, and if accommodations could reasonably be made, or cause undue hardship to the employer related to essential tasks of the position.
To refer for a clinical evaluation or psychotherapy, please click here: Referrals
For recommendations on how to approach your employer for reasonable accommodations, please visit https://askjan.org/publications/individuals/employee-guide.cfm.
For specific recommendations on your condition, please visit https://askjan.org/a-to-z.cfm.
For more information on employee rights with disabilities, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/publications/ada-your-employment-rights-individual-disability
Disclaimer: Content provided for informational purposes only, is believed to be current and accurate at the time of posting, and is not intended as, and should not be construed to be legal, financial, medical, or consulting advice. Health care professionals should exercise their professional judgment in connection with the provision of services and should seek legal advice regarding any legal questions. References and links to third parties do not constitute an endorsement or warranty by Insight Carolinas PLLC which hereby disclaims all express and implied warranties of any kind. For additional details, please visit www.insightcarolinas.com/disclaim.
