On This Page
About Leg Impairment
Leg impairments can arise from injuries, cancer, arthritis, diabetes, burns, and other conditions. They can be isolated to the leg or exist as a part of another condition. Limitations most often affect walking and can be painful.
Leg Impairment and the Americans with Disabilities Act
The ADA does not contain a list of medical conditions that constitute disabilities. Instead, the ADA has a general definition of disability that each person must meet. A person has a disability if he/she has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having an impairment. For more information about how to determine whether a person has a disability under the ADA, see How to Determine Whether a Person Has a Disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA).
Accommodating Employees with Leg Impairment
People with limitations from a leg impairment may develop some of the limitations discussed below, but seldom develop all of them. Also, the degree of limitation will vary among individuals. Be aware that not all people with leg impairments will need accommodations to perform their jobs and many others may only need a few accommodations. The following is only a sample of the possibilities available. Numerous other accommodation solutions may exist.
Questions to Consider:
- What limitations is the employee experiencing?
- How do these limitations affect the employee and the employee’s job performance?
- What specific job tasks are problematic as a result of these limitations?
- What accommodations are available to reduce or eliminate these problems? Are all possible resources being used to determine possible accommodations?
- Has the employee been consulted regarding possible accommodations?
- Once accommodations are in place, would it be useful to meet with the employee to evaluate the effectiveness of the accommodations and to determine whether additional accommodations are needed?
- Do supervisory personnel and employees need training?
Accommodation Ideas:
By Limitation
Balancing
- Aerial Lifts
- Alerting Devices
- All-Terrain Scooters
- All-Terrain Wheelchairs
- Anti-fatigue Matting
- Bath Chairs
- Canes
- Crutches
- Ergonomic and Pneumatic Tools
- Evacuation Devices
- Fall Protection
- Grab Bars
- Grab Bars - Toilet Hinged Arm Support
- Leg Extenders for Walkers
- Padded Edging
- Personal Safety and Fall Alert Devices
- Personal Transportation and Mobility Products
- Protective Eyewear
- Rollators and Rolling Walkers
- Rolling Safety Ladders
- Scooters
- Stair Assists
- Stair Lifts
- Swing Away Grab Bars
- Toileting Aids
- Walkers
- Walkers for Tall Individuals
- Walkers with Seats
Bending
- Accessible Baby Changing Stations
- Adjustable Drafting Tables
- Adjustable Exam Tables
- Adjustable Massage Tables
- Animal Lift Tables
- Automatic Snow Chains
- Battery Powered Lift Tables
- Compact Material Handling
- Convex Mirrors
- Ergonomic and Pneumatic Tools
- Examination and Procedures Chair
- Long-Handled Mirrors
- Low Task Chair
- Manhole Cover Lifts
- Pickups, Semis, and Heavy Equipment
- Stools for Cutting Hair
- Telescoping Cameras
- Walk-up Changing Tables
Climbing
- Aerial Lifts
- Boat Access
- Compact Ladders
- Elevators
- Evacuation Devices
- Extended Tractor Steps
- Folding Steps
- Ladders (General)
- Large-Rated Ladders
- Large-Rated Small Step Ladders
- Large-Rated Wheelchair Lifts
- Lightweight Ladders
- Pool Lifts
- Rolling Safety Ladders
- Stair Assists
- Stair Lifts
Kneeling
- Accessories for Scooters
- All-Terrain Scooters
- Animal Lift Tables
- Examination and Procedures Chair
- Head Support for Wheelchairs
- Low Positioned Stools
- Low Task Chair
- Mechanic's Seats and Creepers
- Reachers
- Vacuum Pickup Tools
- Walk-up Changing Tables
- Wheelchair Accessible Scales
- Wheelchair Carts/Trailers
- Wheelchair Mounts
- Wheelchairs
Lifting
-
Items
- Aerial Lifts
- Ball Transfer Tables
- Battery Powered Lift Tables
- Carts
- Compact Material Handling
- Compact Mobile Cranes
- Drum Handling
- Drywall and Wallboard Lifts
- Engine Lifts and Lift Plates
- Height Adjustable Table Legs
- Lift Gates
- Lift Tables
- Low Task Chair
- Manhole Cover Lifts
- Rolling Safety Ladders
- Stairclimbing Handtrucks
- Tool Balancers
- Truck Mounted Cranes
- Vacuum Lifts
- Vehicle Lifts and Manipulators
- Winches and Chain Hoists
- Work Platforms
- Other
-
People
- Accessible Baby Changing Stations
- Adjustable Exam Tables
- Adult Changing Tables
- Animal Lift Tables
- Bath Chairs
- Evacuation Devices
- Independent Living Aids
- Large-Rated Wheelchair Lifts
- Lifters and Carriers for Mobility Aids
- Lifting Aids
- Patient Lifts (General)
- Pool Lifts
- Power Lift IV Stands
- Powered Bath Lifts
- Proper Lifting Techniques
- Toileting Aids
- Transfer Aids
- Transfer Sheets
- Walk-up Changing Tables
- Wheelchair Lifts
Squatting
- Accessories for Scooters
- All-Terrain Scooters
- Animal Lift Tables
- Examination and Procedures Chair
- Head Support for Wheelchairs
- Low Positioned Stools
- Low Task Chair
- Mechanic's Seats and Creepers
- Reachers
- Telescoping Cameras
- Vacuum Pickup Tools
- Walk-up Changing Tables
- Wheelchair Accessible Scales
- Wheelchair Carts/Trailers
- Wheelchairs
Standing
- Accessories for Scooters
- Adjustable Drafting Tables
- Adjustable Workstations for Industrial Settings
- Adjustable Workstations for Office Settings
- All-Terrain Scooters
- Anti-fatigue Matting
- Assist Lift Cushions
- Elevating Lift and Office Chairs
- Ergonomic and Pneumatic Tools
- Examination and Procedures Chair
- Flexible Schedule
- Grab Bars
- Handheld Computers (General)
- Head Support for Wheelchairs
- Low Task Chair
- Periodic Rest Breaks
- Scooters
- Stair Assists
- Stand Aids
- Stand-lean Stools
- Stand-up Wheelchairs
- Stools for Cutting Hair
- Van Conversion
- Wearable Anti-fatigue Matting
- Wheelchair Accessible Scales
- Wheelchair Carts/Trailers
- Wheelchair Mounts
- Wheelchairs
Walking
- Accessories for Scooters
- Aide/Assistant/Attendant
- All-Terrain Scooters
- All-Terrain Wheelchairs
- Anti-fatigue Matting
- Boat Access
- Ergonomic and Pneumatic Tools
- Examination and Procedures Chair
- Foldable / Transport Wheelchairs
- Head Support for Wheelchairs
- Large-Rated Scooters
- Large-Rated Wheelchairs
- Low Task Chair
- Personal Transportation and Mobility Products
- Reclining Wheelchairs
- Rollators and Rolling Walkers
- Scooters
- Scooters for Small Stature
- Stair Assists
- Stools for Cutting Hair
- Telework, Work from Home, Working Remotely
- Van Conversion
- Walkers
- Walkers for Tall Individuals
- Walkers with Seats
- Wearable Anti-fatigue Matting
- Wheelchair Accessible Scales
- Wheelchair Carts/Trailers
- Wheelchair Mounts
- Wheelchairs
- Wheelchairs for Small Stature
- Worksite Redesign / Modified Workspace
By Work Related Function
Commute
- Flexible Schedule
- Ridesharing/Carpooling
- Telework, Work from Home, Working Remotely
- Transportation Assistance
- Van Conversion
- Walkers
Parking
Work Station Access
-
Work Station Access
- Adjustable and Ergonomic School Desks and Equipment
- Adjustable Desk Top Workstations for Office Settings
- Adjustable Workstations for Industrial Settings
- Anti-fatigue Matting
- Assist Lift Cushions
- Chair Mats
- Chairs for Little People
- Chairs for People who are Tall
- Elevating Lift and Office Chairs
- Ergonomic and Adjustable Office Chairs
- Large-Rated Chairs
- Stand-lean Stools
- Supine Workstations
- Work Platforms
- Zero Gravity (reclining) Chairs
-
Other Solutions
- Accessories for Scooters
- All-Terrain Scooters
- Articulating Keyboard Trays
- Dual Monitors
- Ergonomic Equipment
- Examination and Procedures Chair
- Expanded Keyboards
- Forearm Supports
- Forward Leaning Chairs
- Head Support for Wheelchairs
- Low Task Chair
- Monitor Mirrors
- Monitor Risers
- Mousing Surfaces
- Stair Assists
- Van Conversion
- Wheelchair Accessible Scales
- Wheelchair Carts/Trailers
- Wheelchair Mounts
- Wheelchairs
Situations and Solutions:

A college coordinator had reflex sympathetic dystrophy, which made her legs swell.
The employee had to elevate her legs periodically throughout the day. The employer purchased a specialized reclining office chair with footrest. The employee was able to continue working at full production with the new chair and a laptop.

A construction worker with a leg impairment couldn’t climb ladders due to an injury he received away from work.
After having a discussion with the employer, together they found an aerial lift that would permit the employee to reach the areas he needed and continue to be successful in his job.

A customer service agent for an insurance company was pregnant and experiencing significant leg and back pain when sitting for long periods of time.
She also needed to use the restroom frequently. The employer provided an adjustable workstation to enable the employee to alternate between sitting and standing positions. The employer also allowed her to take more frequent rest breaks by dividing her existing thirty-minutes of break time into several smaller increments of time so she could use the restroom as-needed.

An emergency room nurse with a leg impairment had walking restrictions.
She couldn’t keep up with the fast paced environment in the emergency room, so her employer reassigned her to an outpatient clinic where she could use a wheelchair the hospital already owned. This enabled the employer to retain a valued skilled employee.

An accountant with a temporary leg impairment couldn’t climb the stairs at her office building.
The employee’s office was on the 2nd floor. She was accommodated by moving her workstation to the first floor until her leg healed.

A customer service representative at a financial institution couldn’t sit in a vehicle for any length of time due to a newly acquired leg impairment, preventing her from being able to commute to work.
The employer called JAN to learn about its responsibilities as an employer for commuting issues. The employer permitted the employee to telework from home as a reasonable accommodation.

A quality inspector for a manufacturing company was experiencing painful swelling in her legs, ankles, and feet during pregnancy.
Her job required standing for long periods of time and she needed to be somewhat mobile. Her medical provider recommended that she take breaks to get off her feet. The employer provided a stand/lean stool to enable her to take pressure off her feet, as-needed, added anti-fatigue matting to her work area, and permitted the employee to rest with her feet up during breaks.

A production assembly line worker had symptoms of frequent urination and diabetic neuropathy in his legs.
The employee could not leave his work area except during scheduled breaks. Accommodation included the use anti-fatigue mat, sit/stand/lean stool, and an in-house paging system to notify the supervisor that a replacement is needed while the employee takes a restroom break.

A kindergarten teacher with a leg impairment couldn’t bend down to the student’s desks.
The job required her to have close contact so she could check student’s work. The employer provided the teacher with a low task chair which enabled the teacher to get down to desk level.
JAN Publications & Articles Regarding Leg Impairment
Publications
Accommodation and Compliance Series
Consultants' Corner Articles
- A Support Person as an Accommodation
- Accommodations for Housekeeping/Janitorial Workers with Industrial Injuries
- Accommodations Related to Commuting To and From Work
- Best Practices for Addressing Requests for Ergonomic Chairs
- Confidentiality of Medical Information under the ADA
- Hidden Disabilities: Confidentiality and Travel
Related Disabilities
Articles
- No Articles available for Leg Impairment
Blog Posts
- No Blog Posts available for Leg Impairment
Events Regarding Leg Impairment
- Upcoming Events
- Past Recorded Module
- Past In-person Training
- Past Exhibit Booths
- Past Remote Monthly Series Training
-
DEAM - A Disability Inclusion Intervention: What DE Members Need to Know to Move the Inclusion Needle ForwardApril 26, 2018
-
DMEC - ADA Basics: Competence Builds ConfidenceApril 30, 2018
-
DMEC - Who Wants to Be an ADA Guru?May 1, 2018
-
ADA Symposium - Unpacking the Reasonable Accommodation Conversation: Achieving Win/Win OutcomesJune 20, 2018
Presenters:
- Tracie DeFreitas , Lead Consultant — ADA Specialist
Presenters:
- Linda Carter Batiste , Principal Consultant
Presenters:
- Louis E. Orslene , JAN Co-Director
-
DMEC - FMLA/ADA Employer Compliance ConferenceApril 30, 2018
-
DMEC - FMLA/ADA Employer Compliance ConferenceMay 1, 2018
-
DMEC - FMLA/ADA Employer Compliance ConferenceMay 1, 2018
-
APSE Employment First, Employment for All National ConferenceJune 26, 2018
-
APSE Employment First, Employment for All National ConferenceJune 27, 2018
Presenters:
- Louis E. Orslene , JAN Co-Director
Presenters:
- Louis E. Orslene , JAN Co-Director
Presenters:
- Louis E. Orslene , JAN Co-Director
-
JAN - Current Events in AccommodationFebruary 13, 2018
-
JAN - Fostering Deaf Success: Attracting, Engaging and Retaining Deaf and Hard of Hearing EmployeesMarch 13, 2018
-
JAN - Ask the JAN Psychiatric TeamMay 15, 2018
-
JAN - The USBLN’s Going for Gold (GFG) Program: Lessons Learned for Increasing Hiring of People with DisabilitiesJune 12, 2018
-
ADA UpdateJuly 17, 2018
Presenters:
- Linda Carter Batiste , Principal Consultant
- Beth Loy , Principal Consultant
Presentations
Handouts
Presenters:
- Anne E. Hirsh , Co-Director
- Kylie Baker and Robert Siebert of Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD) Neighborhood
Presentations
Presenters:
- Melanie Whetzel , Lead Consultant – Cognitive/Neurological Team
- Sarah Small , Consultant – Cognitive/Neurological Team
- Beth Loy , Principal Consultant
Transcripts
Presentations
Presenters:
- Louis E. Orslene , JAN Co-Director
- Leslie Wilson, M.S., US Business Leadership Network’s Vice President, Workplace Initiatives
- Deb Dagit, Deb Dagit Diversity LLC
Transcripts
Presentations
Handouts
Presenters:
- Linda Carter Batiste , Principal Consultant
- Jeanne Goldberg, Senior Attorney Advisor in the Office of Legal Counsel at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Transcripts
Presentations
Handouts
Other Information Regarding Leg Impairment
External Links
Organizations
- Job Accommodation Network
- Office of Disability Employment Policy
- American Chronic Pain Association
- American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society
- American Physical Therapy Association
- Arthritis Foundation
- Institute for Chronic Pain
- MedlinePlus
- National Center for Biotechnology Information
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
- OrthoInfo
- Professional Association of Athlete Development Specialists