Office of Resolution Management, Diversity & Inclusion (ORMDI)
Reasonable Accommodations
Reasonable Accommodation (RA) & Personal Assistance Services (PAS) for Employees and Applicants with Disabilities
- Definition of Reasonable Accommodation
- Personal Assistance Services Procedures
- Regulation
- Lists: RA/PAS Coordinators
- Library: Reasonable Accommodation/Personal Assistance Services
Definition of Reasonable Accommodation
Reasonable Accommodation (RA). In general, an accommodation is a change in the work environment or in the way things are customarily done that would enable an individual with a disability to enjoy equal employment opportunities. The law requires federal agencies to provide reasonable accommodation to an employee or job applicant with a disability, unless doing so would cause significant difficulty or expense for the employer ("undue hardship"). https://www.eeoc.gov/disability-discrimination
- Apply for a job;
- Perform the duties of a job; or
- Enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment.
Personal Assistance Services Procedure
Personal Assistance Services (PAS). PAS provide employees with targeted disabilities "assistance with performing activities of daily living that an individual would typically perform if they did not have a disability, and that is not otherwise required as a reasonable accommodation.
- On January 3, 2017, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued a Final Rule [PDF] amending the regulations implementing Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. (29 C.F.R. §§ 1614.203, 601(f))
- PAS allow employees to participate in the workplace.
- PAS means assistance with performing activities of daily living that an individual would typically perform if he or she did not have a disability, and that is not otherwise required as a reasonable accommodation.
- Agencies are required to provide PAS as a form of affirmative action that goes beyond nondiscrimination obligations.
- Agencies are required to provide PAS to current employees and future employees.
- Agencies are required to provide PAS during telework.
- Agencies are required to provide PAS during employer-sponsored events such as a holiday party.
Regulation
Regulation | Description |
VA Handbook 5975.1- Reasonable Accommodation and Personal Assistance Service [PDF] | U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Reasonable Accommodation Handbook |
U.S. Department of Defense's Computer Accommodation Program (CAP) | Provide assistive technology and accommodation to support individuals with disability throughout the federal government |
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 | Prohibits discrimination based on disability and encourages employment within the federal sector |
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 | Prohibits discrimination and encourages employment for individuals who have disabilities within both the private and public sector |
American with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008 | Expanded the definition of what was covered as a disability to allow more people to be covered under the law |
Lists: RA/PAS Coordinators
- ORM Reasonable Accommodation Services
- Veterans Affairs Central Office
- Office of Information Technology
- Veterans Health Administration
- Veterans Benefits Administration
- National Cemetery Administration
- VA National Reasonable Accommodations
Library: Reasonable Accommodation/Personal Assistance Services
- VA Handbook 5975.1 - Reasonable Accommodation and Personal Assistance Service [PDF]
- Procedures for Providing Personal Assistance Services for Individuals with Disabilities
- VA Form 0857a, Written Confirmation of Request for Accommodation [PDF]
- VA Form 0857b, Acknowledgement of Receipt of Request [PDF]
- VA Form 0857c, Approval of Interim Accommodation [PDF]
- VA Form 0857d, Administrative Closure of Accommodation Request [PDF]
- VA Form 0857e, Request for Medical Documentation [PDF]
- VA Form 0857f, Accommodation Request Determination [PDF]
- VA Form 0857g, Denial of Accommodation Request [PDF]
- VA Form 0857h, Employee Limitations on Reassignment Options [PDF]
- VA Form 0857i, Centralized Accommodation Fund Application [PDF]
- VA Form 0857j, Offer of Reassignment [PDF]
- VA Form 0857k, Authorization for Limited Release,
of Medical Information [PDF] - VA Form 0587l, Reconsideration Request Determination [PDF]
- VA Form 0857m, Analysis of Essential Functions [PDF]
- VA Form 0857n, Initial Interactive Process Meeting Notes [PDF]
- VA Form 0857o, Interactive Process Meeting Notes [PDF]
- VA Form 0857p, Reassignment Search Conclusion (No positions found) [PDF]
- VA Form 0857q, Final Accommodation Determination (Case Closure) [PDF]
- Closed Captioning Guidance 508 Compliant
- VA Telecommunication Relay Services
- Video Relay Service and Video Remote Interpreting
- The Final Rule for the Pregnant Worker’s Fairness Act (PWFA)
Resources
- CDC Report: Prevalence of Disability and Disability Type Among Adults
- Job Accommodation Network
- Computer/Electronic Accommodation Program (CAP)
- Workforce Recruitment Program
- The Employer Assistance & Resource Network (EARN)
- EEOC Document: Questions and Answers: Promoting Employment of Individuals with Disabilities in the Federal Workforce
- EEOC Fact Sheet: Work at Home/Telework as a Reasonable Accommodation
- EEOC’s Overview of Disability Discrimination
- EEOC Issues New Guide to Assist Federal Agencies to Provide Personal Assistance Services (PAS)
- Federal Register 38 CFR Part I: Animals on VA Property
Reasonable Accommodation for Individuals with Disabilities [PDF] - Telework Accommodation Request Flowchart [PDF]