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# JAN’S ACCOMMODATION FACT SHEET SERIES

**Job Accommodations for People with**

**Sleep Disorders**

Several types of sleep disorders exist and have various symptoms.  Insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and restless legs syndrome are among the most common.  Sleep apnea is a condition in which a person stops breathing for 30 seconds or more, several hundred times a night.  Insomnia, on the other hand, is a condition that causes difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep for days, weeks, months, or years. Narcolepsy's primary characteristic is sleep attacks while restless leg syndrome interrupts sleep leading to sleepiness during the day. 

The following is a quick overview of some of the job accommodations that might be useful for employees with sleep disorders. For a more in depth discussion, access JAN's publications at http://askjan.org/media/atoz.htm.  To discuss an accommodation situation with a consultant, contact JAN directly.

# Fatigue/Weakness:

· Reduce or eliminate physical exertion and workplace stress

· Schedule periodic rest breaks away from the workstation

· Allow a flexible work schedule and flexible use of leave time

· Provide a straight working shift and allow work from home

· Implement ergonomic workstation design

**Medical Treatment Allowances:**

· Provide flexible schedules and/or flexible leave

· Allow a self-paced workload with flexible hours

· Allow employee to work from home

# Anxiety: 

# · Develop strategies to deal with work problems before they arise 

# · Provide sensitivity training to co-workers 

# · Allow telephone calls during work hours to doctors and others for support 

# · Provide information on counseling and employee assistance programs 

· Provide alternate work space to reduce visual and auditory distractions

· Reduce noise with sound absorbent baffles/partitions, environmental sound machines, and headsets 

**Concentration:**

· Use a fan, "driver beep alarm," or other device to stay oriented

· Use a checklist, organizer, or pacesetter device for reminders

· Provide safety and communication devices such as harnesses, machine guards, pagers, and two-way radios

**Resources Specifically for People with Sleep Disorders**

**American Academy of Sleep Medicine**

One Westbrook Corporate Center, Suite 920Westchester, IL  60154Direct: (708)492-0930

Fax: (708)492-0943

inquiries@aasmnet.orghttp://www.aasmnet.org

**American Sleep Apnea Association**

6856 Eastern Avenue, NW

Suite 203Washington, DC 20012Direct: (202)293-3650Fax: (202)293-3656http://www.sleepapnea.org

**Narcolepsy Network**Narcolepsy Network, Inc.

79A Main Street

North Kingstown, RI  02852

Toll Free: (888)292-6522

Direct: (401)667-2523   

narnet@narcolepsynetwork.org

http://www.narcolpesynetwork.org

**National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke**P.O. Box 5801Bethesda, MD 80824Toll Free: (800)352-9424

Direct: (301)496-5751

TTY: (301)468-5981http://www.ninds.nih.gov/index.htm

**National Sleep Foundation**1522 K Street, NW, Suite 500Washington, DC 20005Direct: (202)347-3471Fax: (202)347-3472nsf@sleepfoundation.orghttp://www.sleepfoundation.org

Updated 3/23/10. 

This document was developed by the Job Accommodation Network, funded by a contract agreement from the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (DOL079RP20426). The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the U.S. Department of Labor. Nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Fact Sheet Series

Job Accommodations for People with Sleep Disorders