This study builds on our literature review and evidence synthesis completed for Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) in the spring of 2015. The motivation for this study is that employers often lack accurate information on the best practices for accommodating persons with disabilities and have misconceptions around accommodation costs. Furthermore, our previous study revealed that involving the employee with a disability in the accommodation process and developing a customized accommodation is a critical component to a successful outcome. This study consists of a feasibility study and needs assessment for an online resource. It will provide insights into how ESDC might better support the information needs of employers seeking to hire and accommodate workers with disabilities, as well as the information needs of persons with disabilities seeking employment or accommodation at the workplace.
•To identify best practice resources for employer accommodations from the academic and grey literatures in the field of rehabilitation and return to work, disability management, health and labour economics.
•To identify information needs of employers and stakeholders, their sources of information on workplace accommodation, and whether they think a Canadian searchable online resource would be value added.
•To identify how vendors of assistive technologies and supplies connect with clients, forums that exist in providing services and whether they think a Canadian searchable online resource would be value added.
•To identify what does or does not work for web-based models of searchable resources for workplace accommodation and costs for building and maintaining an online resource for workplace accommodation.
This study is directly related to the development of best practice guidelines by the Canadian Standards Association, and may be a platform for the larger evidence synthesis they will be completing in the process of developing work disability prevention best practice guidelines. The study is also relevant to employers, policymakers, support providers and disability communities.