June is PTSD Awareness Month, which aims to raise awareness of PTSD and its effective treatments so that everyone can help those affected. PTSD is an anxiety condition that can develop in response to exposure to an extreme traumatic event such as military combat, violent personal assaults, terrorist attacks, disasters or accidents. And while PTSD is not unique to veterans and military service members, it is often characterized as one of the "invisible wounds of war" and a "signature injury" of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We will see a growing number of returning service members coping with the challenges of PTSD as they reintegrate into civilian life, today and for many years to come. Because those challenges may impact them in the workplace, it is important for employers to understand the needs of workers with PTSD. Not all individuals with PTSD need workplace supports, but for those who do, such supports can be critical to employment success. Furthermore, employment itself can play a key role in the recovery and rehabilitation of someone experiencing PTSD. (Read more from the Department of Labor.)

The following is an outline of Employees with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from the publication in the Accommodation and Compliance Series, which is designed to help employers determine effective accommodations and comply with Title 1 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Information about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• What is PTSD?
• How prevalent is PSTD?
• What are the symptoms of PTSD?

PTSD and the Americans with Disabilities Act

• Is PTSD a disability under the ADA?
• Are employees with PTSD required to disclose their disability to the employers?
• Can an employer ask an employee with PTSD to submit to a medical examination?
• Do employees with PTSD pose a direct threat to themselves or others?
• How and when does a person with PTSD ask for an accommodation?
• Can an employer discipline an employee with PTSD who violates conduct or performance standards?

Questions to consider:

Accommodation ideas:

Transportation Issues:

Situations and Solutions:

Products:

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