Employer denying accommodations and asking me to return to work without them

Hello,

Location: Georgia (the state)

When I interviewed and was hired at my company over a year and some change ago, I disclosed my permanent service-connected disability and worked with my manager to arrange for accommodations that would allow me to perform my duties. Those accommodations allowed me to perform my work just fine, and I was even given a favorable performance review and promoted.

However, early last month, the HR department decided that despite nothing changing about my job functions or my condition, they wanted new documentation which consisted of a word document that they provided for me to have filled out. They barred me from returning to work and gave me a deadline of a week ago.

They acknowledged that my previously provided documentation did show that I have a disability which requires accommodation, but that they could not allow me to safely return to work unless I had their form filled out. I protested that they had acknowledged that my existing documentation already communicated the need for an accommodation, and that I could not afford a doctor visit without income, but they insisted.

I have already filed with the EEOC, but of course there’s nothing moving on that until the shutdown is resolved. However, this past Friday they reached out shortly before end of day to state that they expect me to return on Sunday, despite the fact that I have not returned their “required” form.

I responded asking if this meant I would be returning with the same accommodations on place and if they had waived the requirement for their form, but all I got back was an email from the VP of HR saying that they would offer my accommodations only if the workload permitted it, rather than making it a guarantee as it had been previously.

My question is this: Since I had not been able to speak to an attorney on Friday due to their timing in sending the request to return, would I be able to say “I would like to delay my return until after I have spoken to an attorney on Monday” or would they be able to call it job abandonment / a refusal on my part? Thanks in advance.