Illustration 3: "Are these Essential Functions?"

On August 1st, Shoshana successfully obtained a job as a file clerk in a departmental office that has eight support staff workers. Her essential job functions are to file and retrieve written materials. After six weeks on the job, Shoshana met with her supervisor and received an excellent performance appraisal with no recommendations for improvement. At the time of this meeting, Shoshana was made aware that her office would be hosting a state-wide conference in November, and she would be expected to drive and pick up the box lunches for the conference participants as well as retrieve the keynote speaker from the airport and shuttle her to her hotel. Shoshana told her supervisor that she was not aware that driving was an essential job function of the position. The supervisor told her that the administrative assistant for the office usually takes care of such things but that the assistant will be extremely busy with other conference matters, so the office needs Shoshana to assume these job functions. Shoshana disclosed to her supervisor that she has a history of seizure activity and no longer has a valid driver's license. The supervisor was very irate and responded that he would be contacting Human Resources regarding this matter since Shoshana cannot perform her essential job functions.

Is driving an essential function of Shoshana's job?