Reasonable Accommodations (RA)

Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation

An employee or an applicant for employment may submit a request for RA orally or in writing at any time.

If you are an employee, discuss with your immediate supervisor or reach out to the EEO Office at navsup_hq_eeo.civ@navy.mil. You may request a reasonable accommodation in-person, by email, in writing, or using  the SECNAV 12306. If a SECNAV 12306 is not completed, the RA coordinator assigned will ask you to fill it out later.

If you are an applicant who needs an accommodation for your interview, inform the HR Specialist in charge of the job vacancy  what accommodation you need. The HR specialist’s phone number and email address are listed in the Job Announcement.

What is a Reasonable Accommodation?

• A Reasonable Accommodation (RA) is any modification or adjustment to a job application process the work environment, or to the manner or circumstances under which work is customarily performed that enables a qualified individual with a disability to participate in the application process, perform the essential functions of a position, or enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as are enjoyed by similarly situated individuals without a disability. 

Key terms 

Essential Functions

Job duties may be fundamental or essential if the position exists to perform the function, there are a limited number of employees available who could perform the function, and/or the function is highly specialized. The essential functions of a position are not the marginal or infrequent-performed tasks that could be eliminated without altering the fundamental nature of the job; however, these infrequently performed tasks may be essential if the consequences of non-performance could be severe. The first level supervisor determines the essential functions of the position.

Medical Documents

After you make your request, medical documentation may be requested in order to determine your status as a Qualified Individual with a Disability (QIWD). It is also used in understanding the functional limitations of the disability or medical condition.

Interactive Process

The interactive process starts as soon as you request accommodation. A continuing dialogue between the individual, the first level supervisor and RA Coordinator, that determines the individual’s eligibility for a reasonable accommodation, identifies an effective accommodation, and informs the individual of the status of their request for accommodation. The interactive process is continuous and on-going and does not end with the approval of a reasonable accommodation approval. 

It is the employee’s  responsibility to be responsive and provide the requested documentation during the process. If  the necessary documentation is not provided the request for an  accommodation may be denied for failure to participate. 

Personal Assistance Services

Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, requires federal agencies to provide Personal Assistance Services (PAS) during work hours and job-related travel as an affirmative action obligation to individuals who need them because of their targeted disability, absent undue hardship on the agency. The process to request PAS is the same as for requesting a Reasonable Accommodation. 

Federal agencies are required to provide personal assistance services to employees who need them because of a targeted disability, unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on the agency. Personal assistance services differ from medical services and services that are typically performed by someone who often has the job title of “personal assistant.” Personal assistance services are non-medical services needed by individuals whose specific disabilities make it difficult to perform such activities as an individual taking off and putting on a coat, eating and the use of the restroom on their own.

Accessibility of Electronic and Information Technology and Facilities

The Department of the Navy (DON) is committed to ensuring the DONs electronic and information technology, such as websites, electronic documents, hardware and software, are accessible to individuals with disabilities in accordance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. In addition, the DON shall ensure that its facilities and physical infrastructure are accessible to individuals with disabilities in accordance with the standards issued under the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) of 1968, and adopted by the Department of Defense (DoD). On March 7, 2018, the DON issued a Policy on Accessibility of Electronic and Information Technology and Facilities.

If you wish to report an accessibility issue related to electronic and information technology, or related to the physical accessibility of facilities, please send a detailed email to navsup_hq_eeo.civ@navy.mil with your contact information, the organization with which you are employed, and a description of the specific accessibility concern. You may also file a Section 508 complaint through DoD by submitting a form at this link: http://dodcio.defense.gov/DoDSection508/Section-508-Form. You may find information on how to file an ABA complaint through the United States Access Board at this link: https://www.access-board.gov/enforcement/.