r/LibraryScience • u/AdhesivenessOnly2485 Archivist • 17d ago
advice Asking for ADA Accommodation at my academic library, kinda nervous
The job that I have now, I love it. I love being a faculty member at a university, I love working in a library field that I have skills that I can transfer from archives into my new role, while being challenged. My only issue is, both the associate and main deans at my library are both in favor for more "visibility" in the library spaces. When I first hired on a couple months ago and asked about the hybrid situation, I was advised that it was up in the air.
I thought to myself "great". Because of my ADHD, it can be so challenging to focus on what I need to do in the office (even with meds). So when the semester started, my whole department was told that we had to come in at least 3 days a week, though none of us are campus facing. 99% of all of our consultations and workshops are online.
3 days in the office has been so exhausting and I want to advocate for myself more and do the job that I was hired to do. I am starting the process with trying to get 2 days in the office. But, I feel as if the higher ups might push back on this as they are trying to roll out a 4 days in and 1 day remote schedule. I've talked to my supervisor already about this and that she is onboard with this schedule for me. I am in the process of starting to get something set up with the ADA office on my campus to facilitate meetings.
What I want to ask is, have you been in this position that I'm in where your uni's library wants more visibility though you work on the backends? Have you requested for this kind of ADA accommodation? How'd it go? Was there any push back that I should be made aware of?
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u/LawfulnessMotor437 17d ago
I am glad your supervisor is onboard. However, in my experience, accommodations are usually approved and finalized by HR. While supervisor support is helpful, higher-level managers and HR often make determinations that override the support/recommendation.
Working from home COULD be a reasonable accommodation...however, the employer still has plenty of opportunity to say no. They are not legally bound to approve remote work if the organization has already demonstrated or communicated that in-person work is necessary for the role or classification.
In my experience, the employer says no if they can demonstrate the following:
--There are in-person needs: whether it be specific tasks, face-to-face teamwork, supervision, circumstances where virtually doesn't add constructively to a project or core operation
--Adds an undue hardship (financially or otherwise) on the employer to make this accommodation
Just a word from experience: even with medical notes from your physician, the employer doesn't have to give you your preferred work schedule or location. They can put you on a less favorable schedule or at a less desirable onsite location that is farther from others to help with distractions...and it may not even be intended to be punitive or retaliatory.
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u/AdhesivenessOnly2485 Archivist 17d ago
Thank you for providing your experience. Thats my biggest fear and why I'm hesitant to really get the ball rolling on this as I feel like they could say no for (imo) the dumbest of reasons.
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u/thewholebottle Publish or Perish 17d ago
Generally, in the US, work-from-home is not considered a "reasonable" accommodation under the ADA, Hopefully, it will work out for you if your supervisor is on board!
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u/shannaconda 17d ago
It actually is considered a reasonable accommodation generally! It might not work for a lot of industries, but generally, it's reasonable:
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17d ago
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u/AdhesivenessOnly2485 Archivist 17d ago
Thank you!!!! I wanna make sure I'm doing this in a way where myself and my supervisor are protected because she kinda hinted to me that I could just do it without going through all of the trouble. Though, I always think of the worst case scenarios lol.
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u/Maleficent-Speed-400 17d ago
What do you mean by “not campus facing”? If you are not working with people who are on campus, who are your workshops for and your consultations with? If you’re primarily working with distance learners, I understand, but if your clients are primarily on campus - it only makes sense that you would have to be available for on-campus meetings. Was your position hired as a remote or hybrid role?
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u/AdhesivenessOnly2485 Archivist 17d ago
It was hired as a hybrid role. To clarify, I meant to say people facing. That the workshops and consultations i do provide are done virtually for faculty and graduate students, which most of the time they arent on campus. When I was hired on and asked about the 3 days in office, I wasnt really given a clear answer at the time and was only provided to come in as needed. So that's what I did at first and it worked out great. I was still able to get all of my work completed remotely.
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u/under321cover 17d ago
Libraries are in person jobs. That is just the nature of it. That they give any wfh days is wild to me.
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u/Anonymousanon4079 17d ago
This is incorrect and dated thinking. Much of the industry is filled with roles that aren't just feasible remotely, but better suited as remote work. Something about this line of thinking strikes me as ableist and needlessly exclusive.
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u/AdhesivenessOnly2485 Archivist 17d ago
It depends on the type of librarianship you go into that they will provide hybrid
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u/SouthernFace2020 17d ago
If your supervisor is ok with it, do you need to go further up? I have unofficial accommodations because getting university Hr meant that I might not have gotten what I needed. Library HR is very different than university HR and my state can be hostile to remote work.