32 Postal Service Testing Policy for Applicants With Disabilities

321 Overview

Tests include all written, oral, performance, and other tests. Consistent with applicable statutes and its own policy of providing equal employment opportunity, the Postal Service will provide reasonable accommodation in tests for the known disabilities of individuals when the following apply:

• An individual requests such assistance; and
• The accommodation does not impose an undue hardship on the Postal Service.

The Postal Service provides such accommodation case by case.

This policy provides a framework for those individuals who must make decisions concerning reasonable accommodation in the testing process for applicants with disabilities. This framework takes into account the following:

• The nature and severity of the disability.
• The type of test or selection process the Postal Service is administering.
• The resources available to the local Postal Service hiring or testing office.

This policy is tempered in each situation by the following:

• Specific needs of the applicant with a disability.
• Essential functions of the job for which the applicant applied.
• Nature and purpose of the test or selection procedure.
• Limitations of local resources.

Postal Service policy is to treat all applicants fairly and equitably.

You must recognize that this is a request for reasonable accommodation if the following occurs:

• A disability reduces an applicant’s opportunity to demonstrate that he or she possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the essential functions of the job sought; and
• The applicant makes it known that he or she needs assistance because of an impairment.

Such a request requires your attention and action. You must follow the six-step process described in 22. Bear in mind that the Postal Service will not provide accommodations that would impose an undue hardship on Postal Service operations.