Adding Accommodation Statements
Accommodation statements show that an organization is committed to helping workers with disabilities to perform their jobs effectively. These statements are not just for show: they can motivate a broad range of candidates to apply to your job.
An accommodation statement is a commitment to support workers with physical or mental limitations so they can thrive. It can encompass a range of specific measures your company will take to fulfill this promise. Some examples include:
- Remote working for employees who don’t thrive in an office environment.
- Noise reduction or real-time speech translation for hard-of-hearing employees.
- A mechanical lift or hand truck for someone otherwise unable to move a 30-pound box.
What are 'reasonable accommodations'?
The Americans with Disabilities Act describes three areas in which reasonable accommodations may be needed:
- Adjustments to the job application process so a qualified applicant with a disability can be considered for a position;
- Modifications to the physical work environment, or to the way a job is usually performed, so an individual with a disability can perform the essential functions of that position; and
- Changes that enable an employee with a disability to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment like those that are enjoyed by other employees without disabilities. This may include access to cafeterias, lounges, auditoriums and company-provided transportation.
Are accommodation statements only needed in jobs that have physical responsibilities?
No. A disability is defined by the ADA as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity. These can include:
- Chronic illness (including diabetes, asthma, lupus, arthritis);
- Physical challenges (including hearing or speech impairments, blindness or other visual impairments, paralysis);
- Intellectual or developmental disabilities (including dyslexia, ADHD); and,
- Forms of neurodiversity (including autism).
Increasingly, employers are using accommodation statements in broader range of roles to signal their commitment to inclusion and willingness to accommodate a variety of different challenges. This is a tangible way that a company can show - not just tell - its commitment to creating an inclusive workplace that will enable the thriving of people from a variety of different backgrounds and lived experiences.
Job Requirements are critical to ADA Compliance
Requirements are the companion piece to your accommodation statement. It doesn’t do much good to say you’ll accommodate workers with physical limitations and then add a physical ‘nice-to-have’ in the requirements section of your job description. Consequently, it's important to keep requirements to the bare essentials necessary to do the job.
Examples of Accommodation Statements
Application process adjustments
At {{Company}}, we strive to create an accessible and inclusive application and selection process. We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to job applicants who may require provisions to participate in the recruitment, selection and/or assessment processes. Should you require an accommodation, please contact our Talent Acquisition team, by email at jobs@company.com or by phone at +XXXXXXXXX and we will work with you to meet your accessibility needs.
{{Company}} will provide applicants who require a reasonable accommodation, as a result of an applicant’s disability or religion, to complete this employment application and/or any other process in connection with an individuals’ application for employment with {{Company}} Applicants who require such accommodation should contact our Recruiting team at recruit@company.com
{{Company}} is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you would like someone from our team to contact you for individualized support, email us at accommodations@company.com. In your email, please include the position title, the location of the position and the nature of your request.
If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete our application process, please contact our Human Resources team at careers@company.com
Modifications to the job function / work environment
Physical and Weight Lifting Demands: The physical and weight lifting demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at {{Company}} may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Comprehensive statements
{{Company}} complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact reasonable.accommodations@company.com