{"id":618,"date":"2023-10-27T08:03:55","date_gmt":"2023-10-27T15:03:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/dso\/?page_id=618"},"modified":"2026-06-29T07:42:45","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T14:42:45","slug":"managers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/dso\/managers\/","title":{"rendered":"Disability accommodation process: manager’s role"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last updated: February 2, 2026<\/p>\n

Overview<\/h4>\n

Whether you supervise faculty, staff or student employees, UW managers play an instrumental role in the accommodation process. You are often the first person an employee notifies that they might be in need of a disability accommodation.<\/p>\n

While you don’t need to be an expert in accommodation, it’s essential for you to be familiar with the University’s disability accommodation policy and know how to respond when an employee brings a concern to your attention. Your openness and support can make a big difference, guiding employees to the right resources when they need them.<\/p>\n

Key concept<\/h4>\n

A “reasonable accommodation” is a modification or adjustment made to a work environment, task or procedure that enables an employee with a temporary or ongoing disability to perform the essential functions of their job. Changing \u201cthe way things are usually done\u201d in the workplace allows employees with a disability to perform all the essential functions of the job and have an equal opportunity to be successful.<\/p>\n

Taking action on employee accommodation requests or questions<\/h4>\n

When an employee reaches out about accommodations:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Listen attentively and respond with empathy to their concerns.<\/li>\n
  2. Do not ask questions about their medical condition or disability.<\/li>\n
  3. Share the DSO’s Disability Accommodation for UW Employees webpage<\/a> with your employee via email and copy the applicable accommodation consultant listed in the table below.<\/li>\n
  4. Familiarize yourself with the UW\u2018s disability accommodation process by watching the on-demand training, Disability Accommodation: The Manager’s Role<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Determining your designated UW accommodations specialist<\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Requesting employee<\/th>\nAssigned UW accommodation specialist<\/th>\nHow to reach them<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    Faculty<\/td>\nDisability Services Office (DSO)<\/td>\nEmail dso@uw.edu<\/a> or call (206) 543-6450<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Medical Centers staff<\/td>\nYour assigned Medical Center's leave and accommodation specialist<\/td>\nSelect \"UW Medical Human Resources - Leave Management\" from contact us<\/a> or call 206-598-6116<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    UW Facilities staff<\/td>\nUW Facilities HR managers<\/td>\nUW Facilities Partner Resources<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    All other employees, including student employees<\/td>\nYour unit's UWHR leave and accommodation specialist<\/td>\nFind your campus leave and accommodation specialist<\/a>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    Roles and responsibilities<\/h4>\n

    A successful accommodation process requires shared responsibility:<\/p>\n

    Employees<\/strong><\/p>\n