An individual with a psychiatric disability tells her job coach that she has been written up for the third time for being late and is worried about…

The core principle of psychiatric rehabilitation and supported employment is to help individuals succeed in their chosen environments. The individual's tardiness is a direct consequence of her disability's treatment, which qualifies as a basis for a reasonable accommodation request under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The job coach's primary role is to empower the individual. Discussing the option of requesting an accommodation, such as a flexible start time, is the most appropriate first step. This approach respects the individual's rights, promotes self-advocacy, and focuses on problem-solving to maintain her current employment, which aligns with the "keep" phase of vocational support.

A. Exploring alternative employment is a premature step that abandons the current job without attempting to resolve the specific, addressable barrier.

B. A work adjustment program is inappropriate as the issue is not a skill deficit but a medical side effect requiring accommodation, not retraining.

C. Scheduling transportation does not address the root problem, which is the difficulty in waking up on time due to medication.

1. Farkas, M., & Anthony, W. A. (Eds.). (2021). Psychiatric Rehabilitation (3rd ed.). Boston University, Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation.

Reference: Chapter 11, "The Choose-Get-Keep Approach to Vocational Rehabilitation," details the "keep" component of supported employment. This phase emphasizes providing ongoing supports to help individuals maintain employment, which includes assisting them in negotiating accommodations for challenges that arise from their disability, such as medication side effects.

2. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2010). Supported Employment: A Fidelity Scale. HHS Pub. No. SMA-08-4365. Rockville, MD: Center for Mental Health Services.

Reference: Item 12, "Job Accommodations and Supports," states that employment specialists "help people get accommodations and supports when needed." The guide explicitly notes that this includes helping individuals understand their rights under the ADA and assisting them in negotiating accommodations with employers.

3. Pratt, C. W. (2014). Essential Functions of the Job: A Guide for Employers and People with Psychiatric Disabilities. Boston University, Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation.

Reference: This guide, developed by a leading institution for CPRP principles, explains that an employer is required to provide a reasonable accommodation for a known disability. It outlines that a modified or part-time schedule can be a form of reasonable accommodation (p. 4). The job coach's role is to educate the individual about these possibilities.