Myth-Busting
Foundations for inclusion
MYTH: Accommodations are expensive special treatment.
FACT: Most accommodations are simple, low-cost adjustments that often benefit
everyone.12, 13
MYTH: Accommodations give certain employees unfair advantages.
FACT: Accommodations remove barriers that prevent equal participation.
“Employees aren’t automatons. They come to work with their whole being. And they’re largely motivated by finding meaning — not just in their tasks and responsibilities — but in being part of a social fabric that aligns with their values.”
— Kimberley Hanson, CEO, HealthPartners
When we provide ramps for wheelchair users, we don’t consider it an unfair advantage: we recognize it as creating equal access. The same principle applies to accommodations for invisible conditions and chronic disease.
Added bonus?
Accommodations often reveal better ways of working:
- Remote work arrangements initially made for employees with mobility limitations became the bedrock of pandemic resilience.
- Clear communication practices developed for neurodivergent team members improve understanding for everyone.
- Flexible scheduling benefits those with chronic fatigue AND those caring for family members.
MYTH: Mental health accommodations are separate from physical health needs.
FACT: Our brains and bodies don’t operate in isolation, and neither should our accommodation approaches.