In WTU, how does one request a 'reasonable accommodation'?

Bamboonga

Bamboonga

Well-Known Member
PEB Forum Veteran
Registered Member
The title pretty much says it all - the only policy I've seen applies (see attached) to civilian employees only.

Per the DOL website, the Rehabilitation Act does not apply to us.

Per the DOL website, the Americans With Disabilities Act does not apply to us.

Maybe it's pure disillusionment, maybe I missed something...is there ANYTHING to compel the military to comply with a request for reasonable accommodations if it doesn't create an undue hardship (and any other applicable exceptions) for disabled servicemembers?
 

Attachments

Bamboonga said:
The title pretty much says it all - the only policy I've seen applies (see attached) to civilian employees only.

Per the DOL website, the Rehabilitation Act does not apply to us.

Per the DOL website, the Americans With Disabilities Act does not apply to us.

Maybe it's pure disillusionment, maybe I missed something...is there ANYTHING to compel the military to comply with a request for reasonable accommodations if it doesn't create an undue hardship (and any other applicable exceptions) for disabled servicemembers?
Click to expand...

An example of what you believe a reasonable accomadation would be will help us point you in the right direction. When it comes to the military, specifics are very important when it comes to asking for something.

Joe
 
You'd need to start be defining the problem (i.e. what accommodation that you need). You can take it up through the WTU chain of command (squad leader, platoon sergeant) or go straight to your nurse case manager.

In my own experience as a WT who was at the Ft Bliss WTU, they made quite a few accommodations for WT's. Examples were ground floor rooms for those who had difficulties navigating stairways and elevators, service animals for those who need them and room modifications to accommodate physical disabilities.
 
Last edited:
I know at @ Bragg WTU many first floor rooms where wheelchair accessible, meaning more space and personal bathroom with walk-in shower, but the WTU barracks and Bragg are brand new so I'm not sure if other WTU barracks are similar
 
Yeah. No service animals allowed in the barracks (canine or simian). And no housing for people with service animals. They claim dogs aggravate peoples' allergies. And simians aren't recognized as service animals. And they get away with it because apparently equipping their HVAC system with HEPA filters somehow isn't possible.

In short, it isn't really for me. I could probably get anything I asked for, so long as it was for me.

The service animals thing is just an example. Counseling statements for symptoms - passed off as anything from disrespect to misconduct. NCM's who say that survivor's guilt is simply 'selfishness' (literally), and all soldiers have to do to prevent nightmares is change the way they think so that they stop (also literally).

Naturally all these folks seem to be junior enlisted. As near as I can tell that's all they have in common. But if there's some specific way they're supposed to request a reasonable accommodation, they don't seem to know what it is. I was hoping the answer wasn't 'there isn't a way, they can ignore you to your heart's content.'
 
Without knowing the specific accommodation that is needed, I would recommend putting it in writing and running it up through the chain of command.

The WTU is unique as far as the chain is concerned, since most of the squad leaders are E6 or E5(P).

A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. Keep quiet, do the right thing and be your own advocate.

If you or anyone is having difficulties with a reasonable accommodation, they also have the ombudsman and ICE complaint. I would recommend going through the patient advocate before the ICE.

The ICE complaints are read by the hospital commander, who is the WTU commanders supervisor.
 
The specific issue relating to dogs is going to be a very hard sell. I don't want to discourage you, but the Army issued new guidance regarding service dogs a few months ago. I read up on the changes, and the big takeaways were that the dog has to come form an Army accredited training agency, and that the WT would need three reasons as to why the dog would keep them from danger, or improve the WTs situation. It says the request has to go up through the chain of command. The policy owner is MEDCOM, so that would be the top if you don't get help at each stop along the COC.

As I said, I don't want to discourage you, but the Army did not budge even after MSNBC did a segment about it using a pretty badly wounded WT.

Joe
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top