The U.S. Agency for International Development is committed to recruiting and retaining qualified individuals with disabilities.
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, is a United States federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by Federal agencies, in programs receiving Federal financial assistance, in Federal employment, and in the employment practices of Federal contractors.
An applicant or employee may request a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application process or to perform the essential duties of the position for which they were hired. These accommodation requests are reviewed by the USAID Office of Civil Rights Disability Employment Division Reasonable Accommodation Program. The Reasonable Accommodation Program uses an interactive process between the requesting individual (applicant or employee), the Agency Disability Employment Program Manager (equivalent to the Selective Placement Program Coordinator), and the Human Resources Specialist or supervisor, as appropriate. Accommodations span a wide range of services, technologies, and/or workplace modifications. For example, a job applicant might request an American Sign Language interpreter for a job interview, or a visually impaired employee might request alternate format material for effective communication.
The USAID Reasonable Accommodation policy, Automated Directives System (ADS) Chapter 111 Procedures for Providing Reasonable Accommodation, covers the process for requesting a reasonable accommodation and Personal Assistance Services (PAS), including medical documentation requirements, confidentiality, timelines, granting or denial of a request, etc. USAID will make available to job applicants and employees a copy of its procedures and associated forms in written and accessible formats. 29 C.F.R. § 1614.203(d)(3)(i). Accessible formats that meet an individual’s particular need include braille, large print, etc.
You can learn more about PAS at this U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) page: Questions and Answers: Federal Agencies’ Obligation to Provide Personal Assistance Services Under Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act. Consistent with the EEOC’s guidance, requests for PAS for employees with targeted disabilities will be processed under reasonable accommodations procedures.
For more information or inquiries about the Reasonable Accommodation Program, including to request an accommodation or PAS, please contact ReasonableAccommodations@usaid.gov.
To contact the USAID Selective Placement Program Coordinator, please email DisabilityProgram@usaid.gov.
Affirmative Action Plan for People with Disabilities
On January 3, 2017, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued an update to Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended. Pursuant to 29 CFR 1614.203(e)(2), each agency shall make an affirmative action plan for the hiring, placement, and advancement of individuals with disabilities and make it available to the public.
The FY 2023 Affirmative Action Plan for People with Disabilities is shared here in accordance with 29 CFR 1614.203(e)(2) and is updated annually.
For questions concerning the plan, please contact the Office of Civil Rights Affirmative Employment Division at ocr-affirmative-employment-program@usaid.gov.
