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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

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

Library: Reasonable Accommodation/Personal Assistance Services

Resources

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