An Industrial Model for Assisting Employers to Comply With the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990

Innovative opportunities exist for occupational therapists to expand their role and assume a more active role in helping employers comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) (Public Law 101–336). This article proposes an industrial model to facilitate earlier employer involvement and compliance with Title I of the ADA. It introduces the process for implementation of the Industrial Model of Rehabilitation Management (developed by the second author), defines the therapist’s role, presents a clinical example, and discusses weaknesses and strengths of the model. Therapists are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Industrial Model proposed to assist the employer’s implementation of the ADA.