WASHINGTON, DC—The USDA Forest Service is committed to ensuring that all employees have equitable access to the tools they need to successfully do their jobs. Empowering employees with knowledge and resources is a crucial part of creating real solutions that dismantle the barriers to inclusion in the workplace.

Disabilities come in many forms, some that are physical but also many that are invisible to others. Regardless of whether a disability is evident, equity should be the standard and be tailored for individuals based on their unique circumstances. Equity can feel unattainable to employees if they don’t know what support is available or how to request it. But help is within reach through USDA’s Reasonable Accommodations and Personal Assistance Services policy.

“Reasonable accommodation enables employees with disabilities an accessible, equitable, inclusive and usable work environment to grow professionally, participate, network and be a part of a team that values the Forest Service mission,” said Randall Murbach, reasonable accommodation specialist for the Pacific Northwest and Alaska regions and Research and Development.

Accessibility is foundational for ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. The reasonable accommodation policy was established to provide individuals with disabilities opportunities comparable to those individuals without disabilities, allowing them to participate in the job application process, perform essential functions of their job, and fully enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment.

A reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment to a job, an individual’s work environment, or the way things are usually done during the hiring process to remove barriers and enable participation for people with disabilities.

An employee or applicant can request a reasonable accommodation either in writing or orally at any time during the application process or while employed. The individual can submit the request either through their supervisor, a reasonable accommodation coordinator, Human Resources, or a contact identified in a vacancy announcement.

Once submitted, supervisors and reasonable accommodation specialists are responsible for verifying the individual’s disability (particularly if the disability is not obvious). The supervisor must also identify the essential job functions and work with the individual to identify accommodations that would effectively reduce or remove the barriers. Generally, these requests are processed within 30 business days. Once approved, the supervisor and employee work together to implement the accommodation.

The type of accommodation that an employee may receive varies widely. Each situation is specific to an employee’s circumstance and the resources or tools that most effectively remove the barriers to equitable opportunity. Possible accommodations may include changes to a job (or application process), changes in workplace policies, changes in the work environment (such as flashing warning lights for evacuation) or supplying the individual with assistive technology or communication devices.

“Providing employees with reasonable accommodation allows the Forest Service to retain valuable employees who may have hit some stumbling blocks along the way, and this gives them solutions to continue forward in an effective manner,” said Murbach.

The federal government employs numerous individuals with disabilities across the nation. These individuals play pivotal roles in the meaningful work that benefits the American people and keeps the nation’s economy strong. National Disability Employment Awareness Month celebrates these contributions and raises awareness for inclusive employment policies and practices that benefit employers and employees.

Numerous resources and trainings are available to support employees with understanding and requesting accommodations. Visit one of the websites listed below to learn more. In addition, employees can contact the reasonable accommodations centralized mailbox directly.

• USDA TARGET Center workshop series: 2023 National Disability Employment
• Awareness Month | USDA
• Forest Service Reasonable Accommodations website 
• Reasonable Accommodations Frequently Asked Questions
• Job Accommodation Network