This lesson defines reasonable accommodations, who qualifies, and provides practical examples and boundaries for implementation.
What Counts as a Reasonable Accommodation: Definition and Eligibility
This lesson defines reasonable accommodations, who qualifies, and provides practical examples and boundaries for implementation.
Definition and Purpose
A reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment to the workplace that enables an employee to perform essential job functions or access opportunities available to all staff. It removes barriers caused by disabilities or neurodivergent needs while protecting business operations.
Eligibility and Scope
Eligibility generally covers employees and applicants protected by disability or neurodiversity considerations. Accommodations are provided through a collaborative process that respects privacy and equality of opportunity.
Examples of accommodations include:
- Flexible scheduling or shift adjustments
- Assistive technologies such as screen readers or speech-to-text
- Workspace or task redesigns to reduce barriers
- Alternative formats for documents and meetings
- Quiet spaces or reduced sensory stimuli
Limitations
Accommodations should be feasible and do not impose undue hardship on the organization. When an option is not feasible, alternatives should be explored through an interactive process.