Reasonable Accommodation

Meaning

Any change to the environment, equipment, processes, or practices that improves accessibility or helps an individual perform or benefit from an activity, based on the need of an individual.

Background

The term "reasonable accommodation" is often used in the context of employment because of its reference in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), but can be used to describe any accessibility-related adjustments.

The ADA states that a reasonable accommodation may include:

  • Making existing facilities used by employees readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities; and
  • Job restructuring, part-time or modified work schedules, reassignment to a vacant position, acquisition or modification of equipment or devices, appropriate adjustment or modifications of examinations, training materials or policies, the provision of qualified readers or interpreters, and other similar accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

Reasonable accommodations are required by law, but accommodation requests do not have to be agreed to if doing so would cause an undue hardship.

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