Tulane University is committed to providing equal opportunity and access to all members of our community. If you have a condition that affects your ability to perform your job, you may be eligible for a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Note: The Equal Opportunity department in the Office of Human Resources is responsible for conducting investigations into employee complaints of disability discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
What is a Reasonable Accommodation?
A reasonable accommodation is any change or adjustment to a job or work environment that enables an individual with a disability to:
- Participate in the job application process,
- Perform the essential functions of a job, or
- Enjoy benefits and privileges of employment equal to employees without disabilities.
Examples include modifying equipment, adjusting work schedules, changing the physical layout of an office, providing assistive technology, or offering materials in alternative formats such as braille, large print, or digital.
How to Request an Accommodation
The accommodation process is confidential, interactive, and may involve several individuals.
- Submit a request: Complete the electronic Reasonable Accommodation Request Form. The contents of the form are confidential and will not be placed in your general HR employment record. You may also initiate a request by contacting the ADA/504 Coordinator, your supervisor, or your designated Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP).
- Provide documentation: Ask your medical provider to complete the ADA Medical Inquiry Form. The completed form can be sent directly from your provider to ADAaccess@tulane.edu, or you may submit it yourself. Please do not give medical records to your supervisor.
- Interactive review: The Job Accommodations Specialist will review your request and documentation, and engage in an interactive process with you before making a determination on the requested accommodation.
- Implementation: Your department will implement the recommended accommodation, maintaining your confidentiality throughout the process.
Checking your request status: After submitting your online request, you'll receive a confirmation email. You can also log into your employee portal at any time using your Tulane Single Sign-On to view your status, upload additional documents, or request further accommodations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Under the ADA, "disability" is a legal term defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. This includes people with a history of such an impairment or those regarded as having one.
Disabilities may be visible or non-apparent, such as chronic medical, sensory, learning, or mental health conditions.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 20 million of 68 million U.S. families include a member with a disability — making people with disabilities the nation's largest minority group.
Employers are not required to provide accommodations that would cause "undue hardship," meaning significant difficulty or expense based on the employer's size, resources, and structure. This determination is made on a case-by-case basis.
If a requested accommodation is deemed an undue hardship, the employer must consider alternative solutions or allow the employee to cover part of the cost if feasible.
Assistive technology promotes independence for individuals with disabilities by adapting how they interact with devices. Examples include speech recognition software, screen magnifiers, and screen readers.
What is Digital Accessibility?
Digital accessibility ensures that websites and technology can be used by everyone, including people with disabilities. This includes tools like screen readers, captioning, and keyboard navigation.
Where can I learn more about my ADA rights?
- ADA National Network: adata.org
- Job Accommodation Network (JAN): askjan.org
- Southwest ADA Center: southwestada.org
- Louisiana Governor's Office: Disability Affairs Resources
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): eeoc.gov
- U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ): ada.gov
- U.S. Department of Labor (DOL): dol.gov/odep
Source materials: ADA National Network, Cornell University, and the Job Accommodation Network.
Religious Accommodation
If you need a workplace adjustment based on your religious beliefs or practices, visit our Religious Accommodation page for information about your rights under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and how to submit a request to the Employee Relations team.
Learn more about Religious Accommodations →
Lucet: Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Lucet is our EAP provider. Lucet offers programs and services to help individuals achieve better health and overcome barriers in life. Tulane employees will have access to webinars, onsite trainings, and mobile applications that can assist with work-life services, mental health & therapy, and professional training.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about the ADA, reasonable accommodations, or require assistance completing the request form, please contact Sydney Cone, Job Accommodations Specialist:
- Phone: (504) 247-1774
- Email: ADAaccess@tulane.edu
- Website: adaaccess.tulane.edu
