Reasonable accommodation refers to the provision of conditions, equipment, and environment that enable an individual to effectively perform his or her job.? The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission describes reasonable accommodation[link opens in new window] as follows:

"The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires an employer with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, unless it would cause undue hardship.? A reasonable accommodation is any change in the work environment or in the way a job is performed that enables a person with a disability to enjoy equal employment opportunities. There are three categories of reasonable accommodations:

• Changes to a job application process;
• Changes to the work environment, or to the way a job is usually done;
• Changes that enable an employee with a disability to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment (such as access to training)."

Some useful resources regarding reasonable accommodations are the following:

• The Job Accommodation Network[link opens in new window] (JAN) is a free service provided by the Office of Disability Employment Policy[link opens in new window] of the U.S. Department of Labor.? JAN provides "a free consulting service designed to increase the employability of people with disabilities by: 1) providing individualized worksite accommodations solutions, 2) providing technical assistance regarding the ADA and other disability related legislation, and 3) educating individuals about self-employment options. "

• The Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America[link opens in new window] (RESNA) is an interdisciplinary association of people with a common interest in technology and disability.? RESNA's mission is to "improve the potential of people with disabilities to achieve their goals through the use of technology. We serve that purpose by promoting research, development, education, advocacy and provision of technology; and by supporting the people engaged in these activities."

• The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for enforcing all Federal laws prohibiting job discrimination.? The EEOC also provides oversight and coordination[link opens in new window] of all federal equal employment opportunity regulations, practices, and policies.

• ADA & IT Technical Assistance Centers[link opens in new window]?provide comprehensive information on the Americans with Disabilities Act[link opens in new window] and accessible information technology to businesses, government entities and the general public.

• The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc.[link opens in new window] (RID) is a national membership organization of professionals who provide sign language interpreting and transliterating services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing persons.