32 Postal Service Examination Policy for Applicants With Disabilities

321 Overview

Examinations 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 examinations for the known disabilities of individuals when the following applies:

1. An individual requests such assistance and
2. To the extent the accommodation does not impose an undue hardship on the Postal Service.

The Postal Service provides such accommodation on a case-by-case basis and the field office staff responsible for conducting the examination determines the type of accommodation.

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 examination or selection process the Postal Service is administering.
• The resources available to the local Postal Service hiring or examination office.

This policy is tempered in each situation by the following:

• The specific needs of the applicant with a disability.
• The essential functions of the job applied for.
• The nature and purpose of the test or selection procedure.
• The 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.