The U.S. Department of Commerce provides reasonable accommodations so that people with disabilities have the opportunity to perform the duties of their positions.

What is Reasonable Accommodation?

Reasonable accommodation is any change or adjustment to a job or work environment that permits a qualified applicant or employee with a disability to participate in the job application process, to perform the essential functions of a job, or to enjoy benefits and privileges of employment equal to those enjoyed by employees without disabilities. For example, reasonable accommodation may include:

• providing or modifying equipment or devices, 
• job restructuring, 
• part-time or modified work schedules, 
• reassignment to a vacant position, 
• adjusting or modifying examinations, training materials, or policies, 
• providing readers and interpreters, and 
• making the workplace readily accessible to and usable by people with disabilities. 

An employer is required to provide a reasonable accommodation to a qualified applicant or employee with a disability unless the employer can show that the accommodation would be an undue hardship -- that is, that it would require significant difficulty or expense.

The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is responsible for the Department’s EEO program, including affirmative action, for employees and job applicants within the Department. The Director of the Office is the advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Administration on the Department’s responsibilities under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended by the Equal Employment Act of 1972, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967.

Reasonable Accommodation Requests

The Department of Commerce (DOC) is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities.  Reasonable accommodations are provided to remove barriers that prevent individuals with disabilities from applying for jobs, performing the essential functions of the position held or desired, gaining access to the workplace, or enjoying equal benefits and privileges of employment as individuals without disabilities. Applicants and employees requesting reasonable accommodation, should refer to the Office of Civil Rights - Reasonable Accommodations Program.