Implementing the "Interactive Process" in the ADA Context

Everyone likes to think of himself or herself as a good communicator, but the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) really puts people to the test when it comes to determining and explaining an appropriate reasonable accommodation for a disabled employee. Once an employee suggests he or she needs some type of accommodation due to a disability, the ADA requires employers to engage in an “interactive process” to determine whether a reasonable accommodation can and should be provided. While this sounds simple, it can be—and is often—anything but simple.