Reasonable Accommodations
Office of Equal Opportunity
To request a reasonable accommodation please email agency-ra-request@mail.nasa.gov
Sometimes it is necessary for employers to make a workplace accommodation for a qualified individual with a disability or for religious reasons, if requested and appropriate. Reasonable accommodations can apply to the duties of the job, and/or where and how job tasks are performed and should make it easier for the employee to successfully perform the duties of the position. In order to implement the requirements of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, NASA Headquarters provides reasonable accommodations to qualified employees and applicants.
Who is an Individual with a Disability?
An individual with a disability is one who:
- Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities;
- Has a record of such an impairment; or
- Is generally regarded as having such an impairment.
Who is a Qualified Individual with a Disability?
A qualified individual with a disability is a person who, with or without a reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the job in question.
What is a Reasonable Accommodation?
A reasonable accommodation is an adjustment to a job or workplace that enables an employee or applicant with a disability or religious reason to successfully perform the essential duties of the job, without undue hardship to the agency.
There are three categories of reasonable accommodations:
- Modifications or adjustments to a job application process to permit an individual with a disability to be considered for a job (such as providing application forms in alternative formats like large print or Braille);
- Modifications or adjustments necessary to enable a qualified individual with a disability to perform the essential functions of the job (such as providing sign language interpreters); and
- Modifications or adjustments that enable employees with disabilities to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment (such as removing physical barriers in an office cafeteria).
Resources for Individuals with Disabilities
NASA Employees’ and Applicants’ Rights under the Architectural Barriers Act
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission – Questions and Answers on Personal Assistance Services