The Employee Disability Resources (EDR) office provides confidential consultations, guidance on workplace accommodations, training and education, referrals and collaborative support, and centralized resources. These services support applicants, employees, supervisors, Divisional Disability Representatives, and university partners in implementing consistent, compliant, and effective processes across the university.
Consultations
The Employee Disability Resources (EDR) office offers confidential consultations for employees, supervisors, Divisional Disability Representatives (DDRs), and university partners to help make workplace accommodations effective and easy to implement.
Employees
Most often, we meet with employees and DDRs together during the interactive process. In some situations, employees may prefer to speak with someone outside their division before submitting an accommodation request — for example, to learn more about the process, discuss confidentiality concerns, or clarify where to start. If that’s the case, we’re available to connect and provide guidance.
Employees may also request that a member of the EDR office attend their meetings with the DDR about their accommodation.
Supervisors
Supervisors may have questions about how to support an employee or implement an accommodation. We’re available to consult with supervisors, typically in collaboration with the DDR, throughout the accommodation process.
Divisional Disability Representatives (DDR)
We regularly consult with DDRs to provide guidance and support in the accommodation process. As subject matter experts, we partner with DDRs to review accommodation requests, interpret medical documentation, and navigate complex or overlapping situations. Our consultations help ensure that the accommodation process is consistent, compliant, and responsive to the needs of employees, applicants and divisions.
University partners
Because accommodation requirements under federal and state laws and university policies often overlap with other workplace policies and processes, our office also provides consultations with university partners when these areas intersect. For example, we may consult on situations such as hiring and recruitment practices, workplace safety or performance management.
Have a question? Contact us at employee.access@wisc.edu.
Accommodations information and guidance
One of our primary roles is serving as the central resource for information and guidance on the accommodation process at UW-Madison for employees and job applicants.
Reasonable accommodations
A reasonable accommodation is a change to the way things are usually done at work. Read more about accommodations on our accommodations page.
Divisional Disability Representative Program
Our office leads the Divisional Disability Representative program which is a network of HR professionals across the university who manage and process accommodation and medical leave requests, and handle confidential medical information for school, college, division or administrative unit. See our Divisional Disability Representatives.
Data tracking for accommodations
Our office continually tracks accommodation requests, reviews related data, and makes recommendations for process improvement.
Training and support
Our approach
The Employee Disability Resources (EDR) Office takes an educational approach to supporting employees, DDRs, and supervisors and managers in the accommodation process. We regularly meet with supervisors and managers to help them understand their roles and responsibilities in the accommodation process. We also collaborate with the DDRs to develop tailored training presentations for supervisors that address the unique needs of their divisions.
To support ongoing learning within our DDR program, we provide comprehensive training on workplace accommodations, family and medical leave, and other leave options. We actively partner with DDRs during the accommodation process, helping them deepen their knowledge and skills. Throughout our work we educate on access, inclusion, and disability awareness.
Community of Practice
Our office facilitates a DDR Community of Practice, offering space for dialogue, shared learning, and collaboration.
Customized trainings
Upon request, we provide customized training tailored to the specific needs of university partners and community groups. Past sessions have included presentations for UW-Madison human resources conferences, disability awareness and ableism training, and programs for the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources.
To schedule a training, contact us at employee.access@wisc.edu.
Popular supervisor trainings
Introduction to disability accommodations for managers and supervisors
Disability accommodations remove workplace barriers for applicants and employees with disabilities. In this module, you will learn how to recognize when an employee needs an accommodation, navigate the process, and support the employee.
Introduction to family and medical leave for managers and supervisors
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides eligible employees with unpaid, job‑protected leave. This module explains your responsibilities when a leave need arises and how to recognize, refer, and support employees with FMLA needs.
Introduction to worker’s compensation for managers and supervisors
Managers and supervisors play a key role when an employee is injured at work. This module explains UW–Madison’s worker’s compensation process, your responsibilities, and how to support employees during recovery.
Referrals and collaborations
Many disability and pregnancy related services—like workers’ compensation, disability insurance, disability retirement, family and child care resources, or family and medical leave—are handled by different UW–Madison offices and through different processes.
The EDR office can help you find the right place to go if your request is outside of what we handle. We’ll connect you with the office or contact person so you get the support you need.
Depending on the type or nature of the accommodation request we sometimes need to work with other university programs or outside vendors to find and provide a reasonable accommodation. When we collaborate with other offices, we only share the minimum confidential information needed about your condition to help identify or provide accommodations.
Example collaborations
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UW-Madison Leave Coordinator
A request for medical leave may overlap with an accommodation request when an employee is taking intermittent leave and also needs modifications while they are working. In these cases, we collaborate with the UW-Madison Leave Coordinator.
Facilities Planning and Management
A request for ergonomic furniture may also be an accommodation request if the need is related to disability or pregnancy limitations. We consult with Ergonomic Services in Facilities Planning and Management (FP&M) to review options in these situations. In some cases we may be able to loan equipment (e.g. an ergonomic chair, etc.) for a short-time while waiting for a chair that is ordered.
Transportation Services
A need for accessible parking during pregnancy or because of a disability may go beyond what employees can request directly. We work with Transportation Services to identify potential solutions when someone is in this situation.
UW–Madison Workers’ Compensation Office
Employees recovering from a work-related injury who have medical limitations may be eligible for temporary, modified duties during their recovery. The DDR evaluates whether a temporary work adjustment (TWA) can be offered. We collaborate with the UW–Madison Workers’ Compensation Office as needed to coordinate a safe and timely return to work.
Facility Access Specialist in Facilities Planning and Management (FP&M)
We work closely with the Facility Access Specialist in FP&M when an employee’s request involves modifications to university buildings or grounds. Examples may include installing an automatic door opener, adjusting office lighting, scheduling priority snow/ice removal on an accessible route or providing advance notice when painting is scheduled near an employee’s workspace.
McBurney Disability Resource Center
The McBurney Disability Resource Center provides academic accommodations for students and coordinates sign language interpreting and live captioning services across the university. We may collaborate with McBurney when an employee requires interpreting or live captioning services. In addition we may work with McBurney when a graduate student’s job accommodation request overlaps with their academic program.
Resources
With broad knowledge of university services, requirements of disability employment laws, and available accommodations, we provide centralized information about workplace accommodations to interested applicants, employees, DDRs, supervisors, managers, and university partners.
KnowledgeBase (KB)
We are continuously working to expand and improve the resources available through this website and our associated EDR KnowledgeBase to support employees and applicants in the accommodation process.
Additional commonly used resources
We recognize that workplace accommodations are one part of creating an accessible and supportive environment. Explore university and community resources that may provide additional assistance, services, and support related to disability, health, wellbeing, and other needs.
Questions and feedback
If there is information you are unable to find or would like to see added, please let us know — your feedback helps us better serve our university community. Please contact us at employee.access@wisc.edu.