- Are the ACED tools free?
- Who created the ACED tools?
- How were the ACED tools developed?
- Are the ACED tools based on evidence?
- Are my answers to the questions in the ACED tools anonymous?
- How do we use the information?
- Can I save my information after completing the ACED tools?
- Who should use the ACED Tools?
- When should I use the ACED tools?
- What should I do with my DCIDE and JDAPT results?
- Is the JDAPT something unions can use?
- Are the ACED tools accessible?
- Have the ACED tools received any recognition or awards?
Are the ACED tools free?
DCIDE and the JDAPT are available free of charge and are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. That means they can be used and shared as long as IWH is credited as the source, the information is not modified, and the information is used for non-commercial purposes. Read more here.
Who created the ACED tools?
The ACED tools were created by a team of researchers from the Institute for Work & Health working with people living with disabilities and in partnership with several organizations advocating for people with disabilities and/or workplace health. The research team and partners included experts in work and health, occupational medicine, psychology, rehabilitation sciences, ergonomics, public health, communications, and tool development and evaluation.
Learn more about the ACED Project.
How were the ACED tools developed?
DCIDE and the JDAPT were developed by reviewing existing research and resources on workplace communication and support, by consulting with diverse groups, including people living with physical and mental health conditions, as well as employers and professional groups who support people with disabilities. New research was also conducted to better understand the issues facing workers with disabilities. Ongoing testing has enhanced and refined the tools, as well as evaluated their usefulness.
Are the ACED tools based on evidence?
Yes. In their development, both DCIDE and the JDAPT were informed by evidence from existing research. In addition, new research was conducted to help create the tools and evaluate their relevance and usefulness to a wide range of disabilities and job demands.
For more information on the research underlying our tools, please see the ACED project page at the Institute for Work & Health.
Are my answers to the questions in the ACED tools anonymous?
YES. All information entered into the ACED tools is anonymous. We do not save IP addresses or ask for identifying information such as names or emails. The responses to DCIDE or the JDAPT are stored anonymously for 72 hours to allow users to save a draft and return within that time. We do not access people’s responses, and they are automatically deleted after 72 hours.
For more information, please see our page on ACED Tools & Your Privacy.
How do we use the information?
We do not access or use any responses entered into the ACED Tools. The responses to DCIDE and the JDAPT are stored anonymously for 72 hours to allow users to save a draft and return within that time. They are automatically deleted after 72 hours.
Can I save my information after completing the ACED tools?
YES. You can download a copy of your DCIDE and JDAPT answers and save them. You can also save a draft of your answers and return to the tools if you don’t get a chance to finish them. However, you must return to them within 72 hours, or your information will be deleted. You will also need to use the same device you were using when you began answering the tool questions (for example, the same computer or cell phone).
Who should use the ACED Tools?
The ACED Toolkit was designed with workers who have chronic, often episodic, health conditions in mind. However, both DCIDE and the JDAPT are applicable to people with a wide range of physical and/or mental health conditions, as well as those with neurodiversity or those experiencing other changes in their health (aging, pregnancy, menopause, etc.). Please see our resources for more information on Episodic Disabilities.
DCIDE: Decision-Support for Communicating about Invisible Disabilities that are Episodic
DCIDE is designed to be used by a person who is considering whether or not to disclose or share information about their own health with others at work. Many people struggle with this issue. They may experience stress related to making this decision – regardless of whether that decision is to say nothing or to share some information about their health. DCIDE provides personalized guidance by asking the user about key issues that are important to making a decision about sharing or not sharing health information in the workplace.
JDAPT: Job Demands and Accommodation Planning Tool
The JDAPT has different versions designed for two main audiences:
- People having difficulty at work due to their health
- The JDAPT for workers is designed to be used by a person experiencing difficulties at work due to their health and who is looking for practical supports and accommodation ideas tailored to the demands of their job.
- People who support workers having difficulty at work due to their health
- Two versions of the JDAPT have been developed for people who support workers having difficulty at work due to health needs. This includes supervisors, managers, human resources practitioners, occupational health professionals and disability case managers who may provide accommodations or supports to a worker within the workplace. It also includes worker advocates, union representatives, employment support professionals, clinicians or other healthcare professionals who wish to identify potential workplace accommodation ideas that will help them support a worker who is having difficulty at work due to their health.
- The JDAPT to support a worker is designed to help someone identify potential strategies and accommodations for a specific worker experiencing difficulties with the demands of their job due to a potential health condition. In this instance, the JDAPT should be completed by someone familiar with the worker’s day-to-day job demands and experiences. This might be a supervisor, manager, union representative, human resource professional, disability manager or return-to-work specialist.
- The JDAPT for a job can be used to identify the important job demands for a position and how those different job tasks might be made more flexible, supportive, and inclusive for workers, which can promote worker well-being. In this instance, it is not necessary to have a specific worker in mind when answering the JDAPT questions.
- Two versions of the JDAPT have been developed for people who support workers having difficulty at work due to health needs. This includes supervisors, managers, human resources practitioners, occupational health professionals and disability case managers who may provide accommodations or supports to a worker within the workplace. It also includes worker advocates, union representatives, employment support professionals, clinicians or other healthcare professionals who wish to identify potential workplace accommodation ideas that will help them support a worker who is having difficulty at work due to their health.
The JDAPT has been tested with workers in a wide range of occupations, including jobs in manufacturing, healthcare, education, transportation, retail and services. The support strategies and accommodations include suggestions which are relevant to many different types of jobs, though not all strategies will be possible in all jobs.
When should I use the ACED tools?
DCIDE and the JDAPT can be used at any time and as often as you need them. We recommend that they be used early in making decisions about whether to share information, and when thinking about support needs. The tools can be used again to check-in, and when your situation and needs change.
What should I do with my DCIDE and JDAPT results?
Your answers to DCIDE and the JDAPT are for your personal use. You may choose whether you want to share the information with others. People find the information helpful for different reasons. Answering the questions in the ACED tools can give people helpful insights into their personal preferences and job needs. It can also provide people with advice and support ideas that are personalized to their situation.
Is the JDAPT something unions can use?
YES. A wide range of people who provide support to workers can use the organizational versions of the JDAPT. This includes a union representative who is advocating for a worker with a disability. The JDAPT can help union representatives by identifying areas where a job is difficult, as well as by providing a range of potential support and accommodation ideas.
Are the ACED tools accessible?
The ACED tools are usable with a screen reader. If you have difficulty with some of the terms and language in the tools, please see our glossary of terms. You may also find it useful to ask someone to help you complete DCIDE and the JDAPT. We welcome your feedback to improve the accessibility of the tools. See our contact page for more information.
Have the ACED tools received any recognition or awards?
YES. The prototype of the Job Demands and Accommodation Planning Tool (JDAPT) received the 2022 grand prize award in a MaRS-CIBC inclusive design competition focused on ways to provide people with disabilities support at work. The early evaluation research on the JDAPT received the 2023 Michael Feuerstein Award for best paper in the Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation.
