Workplace Accommodations

Harvard University explores requests from staff with disabilities for workplace reasonable accommodations under the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act as amended, and other applicable disability laws.

A reasonable accommodation is any reasonable change or adjustment to a job or work environment that permits a person with a disability to participate in the job application process, to perform the essential functions of a job, or to enjoy benefits and privileges of employment equal to those enjoyed by staff without disabilities. For example, a reasonable accommodation may include, but is not limited to: 

• Acquiring or modifying equipment or devices
• Job restructuring
• Modified work schedules
• Removing physical barriers in a work area

The reasonable accommodation process, following the guidelines established by Title I of the ADA as amended, is a collaborative and interactive process between the employee, Human Resources, the manager/department head, and/or other subject matter experts such as University Disability Resources. While Harvard considers an employee’s preference when assessing requests for necessary reasonable accommodations, at times Harvard may offer an alternative accommodation, so long as the alternative is effective.

FAS Staff wishing to initiate the interactive reasonable accommodation process will be required to complete:

1. Reasonable Accommodation Request Form – This form needs to be completed by the employee requesting the accommodation(s). The purpose of this form is to assist Harvard University in determining whether, or to what extent, a reasonable accommodation is necessary for an employee with a disability to perform one or more essential functions of their job safely and effectively. 
2. Reasonable Accommodation Medical Documentation Form – This form needs to be completed by a medical provider.  To assist the medical provider in this regard, please obtain a copy of your job description and/or a list of the essential functions of your job and share this with the medical provider. Please note that you may also include relevant doctor’s notes in support of your request; however, your medical provider will still need to complete the Reasonable Accommodation Medical Documentation Form.

For questions, or if you prefer to have a no obligation meeting before taking any steps, please contact the FAS Leaves Office by email at leaves@fas.harvard.edu or by phone at 617-495-8958.

For more information regarding this process, please refer to the Reasonable Accommodation Fact Sheet.