The Benefits of Forensic Disability Evaluations

The Benefits of Forensic Disability Evaluations

There were nearly 23,000 alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 2021. ADA violations aren’t the only types of cases where disability can be a factor, though.

Disability can be an important point in divorce, inheritance, and even certain work-related cases (like determining workers’ compensation pay).

To confirm or measure a disability, the government will conduct a vocational/disability evaluation. Often, the presence of a disability is easy to establish, but for the harder cases, officials rely on a forensic vocational disability evaluation. We’ll talk a bit about these evaluations, how they work, and how they can benefit legal officials and other professionals in this article.

1. Vocational Disability Evaluations Are Not Biased

Nothing makes a court case more confusing than biased witnesses. This can even be an issue amongst experts because each side of a court case might have consulted its own legal expert. With two different opinions from qualified people, it can be hard to say who’s right.

A disability evaluation can help because of how it’s designed. It gives the person in question several tests to measure their ability to perform tasks and see if they have any shortcomings. The results of the tests put together should give a detailed view of the person’s health and help determine if they have a disability.

This makes things much easier for court officials to figure out the case and creates a record that employers can use for reference later. It also makes the process much easier if the person has to apply for disability in the future because their information is already on file.

2. Vocational Assessments can Determine Which Jobs Most Suit the Person

A disability evaluation (or vocational assessment) measures a person’s abilities in many different fields. The benefit to this is that it can help determine what a person does well and which jobs they could excel in.

This can be especially useful in disability cases because the ADA states that reassigning someone to a different position is a reasonable accommodation, especially if the person’s injuries have rendered them unable to do their previous job.

3. Disability Evaluations Might Help in a Divorce Case

Family law often uses a disability evaluation if one partner has a disability and was making little to no money. The disability evaluation helps determine whether the person is able to work and support themselves. 

If the person can’t work to support themselves, their lawyer might be able to get them alimony so they’re better equipped to support themselves.

Learn More About Disability Evaluations and Vocational Assessments with Solutions Northwest Inc.

A disability evaluation or vocational assessment can provide a lot of benefits, and not just for the person who has a disability. If you’re employing or representing someone with a disability, it can help you navigate the situation and ensure the best possible outcome for everyone.

If you want to know more about disability evaluations contact us today to make an appointment.

Our vocational experts are involved in personal injury, workers’ compensation, family law and can provide vocational expert witness testimony.

Contact us today to make an appointment.

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