All federal agencies, including the Postal Service, must provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities, unless to do so would cause undue hardship for the Postal Service.
Whether an accommodation would cause undue hardship is assessed by the Postal Service on a case-by-case basis.
The goals of an accommodation are to enable a person with a disability to:
• Be considered for a desired position;
• Perform the essential functions of their position; and
• Enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as do similarly situated individuals without disabilities.
Accommodations vary with each individual and may include modifications to work processes, equipment, facilities, nonessential job duties and work schedules. Some physical examples include providing footstools, stand-up desks and ergonomic keyboards.
Services from sign language interpreters and job coaches are other examples of reasonable accommodations.
Employees who believe they may need a reasonable accommodation should make the request to their supervisor or manager.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a civil rights law, is the basis for these requirements.
Policy handbooks, guidance memos, forms and training courses are available on the Reasonable Accommodation Blue page.
