Ideas for Writing an 

Accommodation Request Letter

Accommodation and Compliance Series
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IDEAS FOR WRITING 

AN ACCOMMODATION REQUEST LETTER

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) requires employers to provide 

reasonable accommodation to qualified employees and applicants with disabilities, 

unless such accommodations would pose an undue hardship (e.g., too costly, too 

extensive, too substantial, too disruptive). In general, the applicant or employee with a 

disability is responsible for letting the employer know that an accommodation is needed 

to participate in the application process, to perform essential job functions, or to receive 

equal benefits and privileges of employment. Employers are not required to provide 

accommodations if they are not aware of the need.

According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal 

agency charged with enforcing the ADA, an accommodation request does not have to 

be in writing. However, the EEOC suggests that individuals with disabilities might find it 

useful to document accommodation requests in the event there is a dispute about 

whether or when they requested accommodation. One way to document an 

accommodation request is to make a written request. 

The ADA does not include specific guidelines or forms for requesting reasonable 

accommodation. However, some employers have developed in-house forms. If so, 

employees should use the employer’s forms for requesting accommodation. Otherwise, 

individuals with disabilities can use any method that is effective; the ADA does not 

require specific language or format. The following information provides an example of 

an accommodation request letter. Please note that the information is to be used as a 

guide only and is not legal advice. If legal advice is needed, contact a legal service.

For additional information regarding the ADA and reasonable accommodation, contact 

JAN.

This publication was written by Linda Carter Batiste, JD. Updated 03/24/10.
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Sample Accommodation Request Letter

The following is an example of what can be included in an accommodation request 

letter and is not intended to be legal advice.

Date of Letter 

Your name

Your address 

Employer's name

Employer’s address 

Dear (e.g. Supervisor, Manager, Human Resources, Personnel): 

 

Content to consider in body of letter:

• Identify yourself as a person with a disability 

• State that you are requesting accommodations under the ADA 

(or the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 if you are a federal employee)

• Identify your specific problematic job tasks 

• Identify your accommodation ideas 

• Request your employer's accommodation ideas 

• Refer to attached medical documentation if appropriate* 

• Ask that your employer respond to your request in a reasonable amount of 

time 

Sincerely, 

 

Your signature

Your printed name

Cc: to appropriate individuals 

* You may want to attach medical information to your letter to help establish that you are 

a person with a disability and to document the need for accommodation.
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This document was developed by the Job Accommodation Network, funded by a 

contract agreement from the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment 

Policy (DOL079RP20426). The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the 

position or policy of the U.S. Department of Labor. Nor does mention of trade names, 

commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of 

Labor.