Can you guys proof read this letter that I am send to my bos

Dear Louie,

I read your letter and I have some suggestions about making your requests more specific and I noticed a couple of typos. So, I wrote out a reply on my computer and then tried to paste it into this box, but it won’t paste in! I would be happy to send it to you if you want it, but I guess it won’t be posted on this bulletin board. I would have to send it to you directly as e-mail. If you want to see my suggestions, please send me your e-mail address. E-mail me at:
[email protected]

In the meantime, Good Luck! Sincerely,
Leslie Foltz-Morrison

Whoa…
Don’t hand in that letter yet. Write me quickly… you’re giving too mucn info withot the mention of an advocate… HOLD THE PRESSES.
Georgia

Excellent letter, Leslie. What I would suggest for you Louie is what I did at my former work place. I wrote a letter (keep copies of ALL correspondance) stating that I had ADHD and LD and requested official accomodations. Having this letter on file protects you. Give a cold copy as well as emailing the letter. This undoubtably proves your request… which you have every legal right to. I did not go into any detail regarding my weaknessess. Instead, I asked for a meeting to discuss accomodations at a time which would be convenient with my advocate.
ADVOCATE is a KEY word, as well as PERSON in your defense. Without which, you may come out of this situation feeling demeaned and still without any accomodations. I also informed my boss that documentation of my disability is available (although, I would have the doctor limit what is said).
I agree with Leslie that less said is better. What you have stated makes you sound quite inept to an employer.
My boss (principal of the school) never responded nor set up a meeting. I followed up with a requst of specific accomodations for my self. A very limited list… but to the point. I thanked my boss and department head for their encouragement and support (ha ha, but this makes a BIG difference.) I specifically asked for a COACH in the work place. Both principal and department head conferenced with me and agreed to this. My disability cause me to lose things frequently and to forget things such as meeting dates and timelines. With my superiors agreeing to “friendly nagging”, I finished the year without incident, and gained the respect of both. This particular request put the bulk of the responsibility for my making timelines, meetings etc. on their shoulders as well as mine. BUT, they agreed in writing to do such, thus protecting my rights and my job.
As far as an advocate, Leslie had some excellennt suggestions. Time is important here, but you must be very knowledgable with what you are doing in this request and armed further with an advocate that will make you empolyer take you serious and uphold you legal rights.
looks like you are getting some excellent advice. LISTEN TO WHAT LESLIE AND I ARE SAYING. Where do you live? Go on line to find the Civil Rights protection and advocacy agents in your state. Keep in touch.
Georgia

Here are a few helpful sights:

http://www.protectionandadvocacy.com/other%20pages/Contact%20P&As%20link%20page.htm

http://www.os.dhhs.gov/ocr/504.html

http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/ada18.html

http://www.as.wvu.edu/~scidis/genlegal.html

http://www.jan.wvu.edu/links/disres.htm

http://www.jik.com/advlinks.html

http://www.mothersfromhell2.org/

Georgia,

Thanks for the help. I have stop the presses on the letter that I was going to send to my supervisor. My disability has caused me to lose things frequently and to forget things. I know the filling. I live in southern California (Inland Empire) around Ontario. I guess I have my work cut out for me looking for an advocate. Another helpful person in the forum (Gespino) has sent me lots of helpful links, I will start looking for an advocate tonight. Thanks for all your help I will give you an update when I have one.

Thanks from me and my family

Leslie,
I agree with you and Georgia and will not be sending the letter until I have spoke to an advocate. I wanted to take this time to say thanks. You can rest a sure that out there in the world there is someone (me) and my family that is very thankful for someone like you. Well I got my work cut out for me looking for an advocate.
Louie

If you are a Federal Government worker like myself, I am afriad a “full discloser” of your disability is needed for you to be “fully” proctected by the Federal Government’s policies concerning workplace rights. (and there are alot) Check out the OPM (Office of Personnel Management) web site. Anybody know differently? please post.

I would agree that a full disclosure is neccessary. However, in the initial letter asking for a meeting to discuss accomodations… I would not disclose everything. What I did and would suggest is;
I first spoke to my Department head and told her that I wished to request accomodations in the workplace for my ADHD as I felt certain problems were directly attributed to such disorder.
She relayed the request verbally to my boss, a high school principal.
He responded in writing asking what I needed accomodations for. here is my response:
August 23, 2001

Dear Mr. G_______,

As you are aware, I spoke to Mrs. H_____ on August 16, 2001 and informed her that I am requesting accomodations to assist me in performing my job description at an optimal level. In the past, I conferrenced with previous administration regarding certain weaknessess that I may exhibit in the workplace due to my disabilities. At that time I was unsure of the process or how to proceed in obtaining accomodations. This was a difficult decision for me, but one I feel is neccesary to protect my rights.

I make every attempt to do what I am required, directed or mandated to do in my professional capacity. However, there are specific behaiors and rections that occaisionally hinder my maximum performance. I have several handicaps that I have gone to great lengths to compensate for. These handicaps are in no way a character weakness nor a moral failing, but the result of neurological conditions.

It is difficult at age 48 and almost twenty years in this profession to ask for assistance. But, it is more difficult to continue to see my reputation and perceived ability to perform my duties damaged further.

Tomorrow, I will meet with my doctor in Savannah. Please advise me as to what I need from him in order to proceed.

Georgia E

Cc Nan A_________
Civil Rights Advocate

Dr. N__________

****so… this may not be the perfect letter…. but I did get results. I chose not to disclose any diagnostic information in this letter. Instead, I had my doctor, who is a great advocate briefly discribe my diagnosis and make recommendations for accomodations in the work place. I had a 504 advocate behind me and I did not hesitate to make sure I sent her a copy as well as name her on paper along with her agency. I disclosed nothing until I was in a documented setting and then only by a doctor’s report written specifically for the occaision. the accomodations, which were agreed upon, were simple and job related. I did get immediate and phenominal results.
Georgia

Thanks Georgia,

I guess I feel less under the chopping board because, along with my ADHD, I am also a Navy veteren with 5 years service, an honnorable discharge, and a total (Navy plus civil service) of 16 years in the federal government at Department of Health & Human Services. And if that’s not enough, I work and live on the outskirts of our nation’s capitol. With all that, I am still harrased at work because my suppervisors don’t think I will take the time to……contact EEOC, The Justice Department, Local and top ranking politicians…dare I go on? With all that at my fingertips, I still am looking for help. Go figure LOL

Hello Louis

I have not seen any correspondence from you since mid October. I am concerned about you job situation, etc. How are you doing now?

Barbara

Excellent letter!!!!!!
Well put, Very professional, and percise

Please do not take the following as bean counting.

In Georgia’s posting frequently the term “accomodations” is used. In the context of diabilities, is this a defined legal term in the US? If so, can anybody provide references (law, text books, anything else)?

The background of my question:
I am living in a French speaking country working in company that speaks UK-English. The company has a large translation department.

My questions arrose when English texts along the lines of Georgia’s suggestions could not be translated into French.

Enquiries with British translators yielded the following: accommodation is spelled with double “mm” and the pluriel accomodations is not used and only a few people would understand accomodations related requests in the sense Georgia and we other readersof this board do, and certainly not ordinary bosses, colleagues or the human ressources department.

Sofar however, translators could also not come up with a good substitute carrying all the connotations present in Georgia’s suggestions.

When I first used the word in a discussion with staff managers they believed it was a request for another, bigger or better office room. Ha, ha.