Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, people with disabilities have the right to request and receive reasonable accommodations when interviewing for a job. Learn more about accommodations and how to request them during the application process in today's blog post.
Throughout July, we're discussing the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). One key feature of the ADA prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in employment. That means employers must provide reasonable workplace accommodations for employees with disabilities. However, did you know that employers must also provide accommodations to people with disabilities who are applying for a job? Today, we're talking about accommodations in the interview process.
An employer may ask if you need a reasonable accommodation for the interview, or you may need to make the request yourself, either verbally or in written form.
We recommend requesting the accommodation when setting up the interview because the employer may need time to make arrangements. For example, if an employer needs to arrange for a different location for wheelchair accessibility, they may need time to find and reserve a space to hold the interview.
The employer is not required to provide the exact accommodation that you request as long as they provide a suitable accommodation. For example, if you are blind and request that an interview test be read to you, the employer may choose to offer the test on a computer using a screen reader or by audio recording instead as long as it allows you to complete the task.
Under the ADA, employers are not allowed to ask you questions about your disability before you're employed with them. However, an employer who may not be familiar with your disability may ask for more information about it before setting up accommodations. If they do, it is your responsibility to provide accurate information so that the employer can arrange the accommodation.
When you apply for and interview for a job, consider the following:
Social Security's Ticket to Work program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSI or SSDI) and want to work.
The Ticket program is free and voluntary. It helps people with disabilities move toward financial independence and connects them with the services and support they need to succeed in the workforce.
Ticket program service providers, like Employment Networks (EN) and State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies, may be able to help you request and secure reasonable accommodations for your job interviews. If you've never considered reasonable accommodations, a service provider can help you learn more and find options that can help you succeed in the workplace. They can also guide you through requesting job accommodations as you interview for job positions and transition into the workplace.
To learn more about the Ticket program, visit www.ssa.gov/work. You can also call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 866-968-7842 or 866-833-2967 (TTY) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Ask a representative to send you a list of service providers or find providers on your own with the Ticket program Find Help tool.
Contact the Ticket to Work Help Line
Call 1-866-968-7842
1-866-833-2967 (TTY)
M-F 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET
Contact the Ticket to Work Help Line
Call 1-866-968-7842
1-866-833-2967 (TTY)
M-F 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET
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