Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

Reasonable accommodation means making reasonable changes to the Department’s policies, practices, or procedures to allow an individual with a disability to fully participate in the services, benefits, activities, and programs administered by the Department.  Reasonable accommodation includes, but is not limited to: 

  • Changes in the application or renewal process to allow an individual to establish and maintain eligibility.
  • Completing a home visit.
  • Providing special machines or interpreters for hearing impaired individuals.
  • Providing materials in Braille, tape, or large print.
  • Requesting assistance of a specialized worker.  


Reasonable accommodation does not include: 

  • altering the nature of the program, 
  • causing undue fiscal or administrative burden on the Department, or
  • waiving any eligibility factor.


Advise the individual in writing or verbally that reasonable accommodations are available at:

  • application,
  • renewal, and 
  • with any NOA.  

Reasonable Accommodation Requests and Determinations

CT Process

 

The individual can request reasonable accommodation in writing or verbally.  Applications and renewal applications request information regarding any needed reasonable accommodations.

Worker Determination

CT Process


Review the accommodation request and ImpaCT to see if the accommodation has been recorded or approved.  Advise the individual of any information needed to determine if the request can be completed.  Offer assistance to obtain the information if the individual is unable to provide it, and there is no one else who will act on behalf of the individual.  Enter case notes for your actions on all reasonable accommodation requests.


Note:  Approval by the supervisor or regional manager is required for requests outside of the worker’s control, but within the regional office’s control.

ADA Coordinator Determination 

CT Process


Contact the ADA Coordinator if you are unsure if the accommodation can be provided, or the accommodation involves a greater administrative or fiscal burden. The ADA Coordinator will acknowledge the request within 10 days.  The ADA Coordinator will advise the individual of any information needed to make a determination.  The ADA coordinator makes and advises the individual of the determination within 20 days, unless additional information is required.  

Deputy Commissioner for Administration Decision 

CT Process


If the individual disagrees with the ADA Coordinator’s determination, the individual can make a written request, within 15 days of the determination, for review by the Deputy Commissioner for Administration. The Deputy Commissioner for Administration’s decision is final.