National Organization on Disability
Changing America’s Approach to Disability
www.nod.org/cont/dsp_cont_loc_hme.cfm
EEOC Issues Guidance On Accommodating
Disabled
By Kellie Lunney
Requests by disabled federal employees and applicants
for reasonable workplace accommodations must be processed promptly and fairly,
according to new guidance issued Friday by the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission.
The EEOC guidance on Executive Order 13164 defines
"reasonable accommodation" as a change in the work environment or application
process that allows a disabled person to enjoy equal employment opportunities.
For example, agencies must provide application forms in large print or Braille
for visually impaired individuals.
The three categories for reasonable accommodation for
disabled people include: making application forms accessible; making
adjustments in the workplace-such as providing sign language interpreters-so
that employees are able to perform essential job functions; and making the
workplace comfortable by removing physical barriers.
"This guidance will help create additional opportunities
for people with disabilities in the federal workplace," said EEOC Chairwoman
Ida L. Castro. "By assuring that federal managers address reasonable
accommodation requests in a prompt, fair and efficient manner, the guidance
will remove workplace barriers that might otherwise confront qualified
individuals with disabilities, thereby allowing them to reach their full
potential."
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