Disability Reasonable Accommodation Division

The Department is committed and obligated to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities unless doing so would result in undue hardship. Reasonable accommodations are those appropriate accommodations that permit employees to effectively perform their essential job requirements. We also ensure equal access to Federal programs, activities, and facilities to people with disabilities. Upon request vans and transportation are available for persons with disabilities. Requests for accommodation are provided and coordinated through the Disability and Reasonable Accommodation Division (HR/ER/DRAD).

The Disability and Reasonable Accommodation Division program includes providing reasonable accommodation to qualified employees and applicants with disabilities (modifications or adjustments that allow qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to participate in the application process or to perform the essential duties of the position for which they were hired). Sign language interpreting services are available for individual and official events and consultation services are provided.

Service for the blind and visually impaired are provided. Readers are available for employees with vision impairments who do not benefit from screen magnification in the office or at training sites.

The Computer Accommodations Technology Center (CATC) has been established to support the Department of State with assistive technology and ergonomic solutions. The CATC is located in Room H-236, Columbia Plaza, SA-1, as part of the Office of Employee Relations. All Department employees are welcome to visit the Computer Accommodations Technology Center. Hands-on demonstrations, literature, and assistive technology experts will be available to answer questions.

Services provided allow equal access to information technology and services in today's work force. The CATC has 6 workstations available for hands-on demonstrations and evaluations of assistive technologies. The workstations are equipped with a variety of hardware and software solutions, which provide accessibility to employees who are visually, hearing, speech, mobility or dexterity impaired.