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Focus area 07 · Partner integration

The accommodation reality check

Employers overestimate accommodation costs by an order of magnitude. Job Accommodation Network data shows 56% of accommodations cost zero dollars. Median paid cost is $500. This tool surfaces real cost data by disability type and job role.

A diverse workplace team meeting including a colleague using a wheelchair
Accommodations that just work
No-cost accommodations
56%
JAN 2024
Median paid cost
$500
Among accommodations with a cost
Perceived cost
$5,000+
HR survey average estimate
ROI in retention alone
3.5×
JAN cost-benefit study

The accommodation gap

HR teams routinely overestimate accommodation costs by an order of magnitude. The gap discourages proactive accommodation offering, blocks hiring of qualified candidates who could be accommodated at zero or low cost, and drives disability discrimination complaints. The Job Accommodation Network has published cost/benefit data for three decades. Our job is to make that data actionable through an interactive layer state HR teams and agency staff can act on.

Estimate the real cost of accommodating a specific role and disability type. Data based on JAN reported cases.

What JAN data actually shows

Myth or Fact?
"Most workplace accommodations cost thousands of dollars."
Tap to reveal ↓
MYTH. 56% of accommodations reported to JAN cost zero. Of those with a cost, the median is $500. Very few exceed $5,000.Source: JAN 2024 Cost/Benefit Survey.
Myth or Fact?
"Accommodations produce measurable ROI."
Tap to reveal ↓
FACT. Employers report an average of $10 in retention and productivity gains for every $1 spent on accommodations.Source: JAN 2024 Cost/Benefit Survey.
Myth or Fact?
"Accommodations trigger requests from other employees."
Tap to reveal ↓
MYTH. No credible research supports the "floodgates" concern. Employers who systematically offer accommodations report improved culture and morale, not managed cascades.Source: EARN accommodation research review.