{"id":809,"date":"2026-02-02T14:00:21","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T22:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/dso\/?page_id=809"},"modified":"2026-02-06T08:31:41","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T16:31:41","slug":"request","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/dso\/employee\/request\/","title":{"rendered":"How to request a workplace accommodation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Requesting an accommodation at the University of Washington is a collaborative and confidential process. Whether you are a staff member, student employee, faculty, or academic personnel, support is available to help you navigate the steps and secure the adjustments you need to perform your job effectively.<\/p>\n<h4 id=\"step-1-know-who-to-contact\">Step 1: Know who to contact<\/h4>\n<p>The first step is to reach out. You can start by contacting your manager, your departmental HR representative, or the appropriate accommodation team based on your employee type:<\/p>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-3\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-3\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Requesting employee<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Assigned UW accommodation specialist<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-striping row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Faculty<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Disability Services Office (DSO)<br \/>\n\u2022\t<a href=\"mailto:dso@uw.edu\">dso@uw.edu<\/a> <br \/>\n\u2022\t206-543-6450<br \/>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Medical Centers staff<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Your assigned Medical Center's leave and accommodation specialist<br \/>\n\u2022\t<a href=\"mailto:medctrsfmla@uw.edu\">medctrsfmla@uw.edu<\/a><br \/>\n\u2022\t206-598-6116<br \/>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">UW Facilities staff<\/td><td class=\"column-2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/facilities.uw.edu\/partner-resources\/about\/contacts\" target=\"_blank\">UW Facilities HR managers<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">All other employees, including student employees<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Your unit's <a href=\"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/contact-us\/leave-specialists\/\" target=\"_blank\">UWHR leave and accommodation specialist<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<p>Regardless of who receives your initial request, they are responsible for helping move the process forward. You do not need to determine on your own who the \u201cright\u201d contact is\u2014start where you feel comfortable.<\/p>\n<p class=\"uwhr-toc-top-btn\"><a href=\"#toc\">Return to top<\/a><\/p><h4 id=\"step-2-submit-a-request-form\">Step 2: Submit a request form<\/h4>\n<p>Complete the <a href=\"https:\/\/myhr.admin.washington.edu\/uwnetid\/DSOext\/DAREmployeeForm.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Disability Accommodation Request<\/a> online form.<\/p>\n<p>This form helps document your request and starts the formal review process.<\/p>\n<p class=\"uwhr-toc-top-btn\"><a href=\"#toc\">Return to top<\/a><\/p><h4 id=\"step-3-provide-medical-documentation\">Step 3: Provide medical documentation<\/h4>\n<p>Medical documentation helps us understand how your condition impacts your ability to perform your job. You will be asked to submit a medical documentation completed by your healthcare provider unless your disability and related work restrictions are readily apparent. The medical documentation provides support for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The disability\/health condition<\/li>\n<li>How your disability\/health condition impacts your ability to perform your job<\/li>\n<li>Any specific recommendations or considerations from your health care provider will be taken into consideration<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Please note:<\/strong> The University prioritizes your preference and considers your healthcare provider\u2019s input, however, the final decision about what constitutes a reasonable accommodation is made by the University, based on the essential functions of your role and operational business needs.<\/p>\n<h5>Health Care Provider Certification Forms<\/h5>\n<p>To review your accommodation request, we\u2019ll need information from a qualified health care provider\u2014unless your disability and related work restrictions are apparent.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The easiest way to provide this?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Use one of our certification forms:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a class=\"uwhr-form  \" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/dso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/06\/health-care-provider-statement-employee-20250609-a11y.pdf\">Health Care Provider Statement (PDF)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"uwhr-form  \" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/dso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/health-care-provider-statement-employee-parking-20250515-a11y.pdf\">Health Care Provider Statement - Parking (PDF)<\/a> (for disability parking or transportation needs only)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These forms are designed to gather exactly what\u2019s needed\u2014helping us respond faster and more effectively. If your provider chooses to not use the University forms, it often slows down the process down if we need additional information from them. <strong>Once you have the completed form from your medical provider:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Return to the <a href=\"https:\/\/myhr.admin.washington.edu\/uwnetid\/DSOext\/DAREmployeeForm.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Disability Accommodation Request<\/a> portal and select My Requests in the upper left corner.<\/li>\n<li>You will be able to re-open your original request and upload the required documentation by scrolling to the Documents section of the form and selecting Choose File.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Already have documentation?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In some cases\u2014especially if your condition is lifelong or well-documented\u2014past medical records may be enough to begin the process. We\u2019ll review what you provide and let you know if anything else is needed.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Not using the form?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s okay, but please make sure your provider includes all relevant details. If anything is missing or unclear, we may need to follow up\u2014possibly delaying your request<\/p>\n<p class=\"uwhr-toc-top-btn\"><a href=\"#toc\">Return to top<\/a><\/p><h4 id=\"step-4-participate-in-the-interactive-process\">Step 4: Participate in the interactive process<\/h4>\n<p>After receiving your request, a designated representative (from the Leave and Accommodation Team or DSO) will reach out to you to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Clarify your needs and work responsibilities<\/li>\n<li>Explore reasonable accommodation options in good faith with you and your department.<\/li>\n<li>Collaborate on identifying a solution that works for you and your department<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This process is not one-size-fits-all. It involves open dialogue, flexibility, and sometimes, input from multiple people. See <a href=\"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/dso\/employee\/after-request\/\">What to expect after you submit a request<\/a> to learn more.<\/p>\n<p class=\"uwhr-toc-top-btn\"><a href=\"#toc\">Return to top<\/a><\/p><h4 id=\"step-5-receive-a-decision\">Step 5: Receive a decision<\/h4>\n<p>Once the interactive process concludes, you will receive a written response that may include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>An approved accommodation, with next steps for implementation<\/li>\n<li>When the University is not able to provide what is requested, we may offer an equally effective alternative<\/li>\n<li>If no reasonable accommodation can be identified, a protected leave of absence may be offered as an alternative accommodation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The accommodation team and your department will work with you to put any approved changes in place. Some accommodations may require coordination across multiple units (e.g., space planning, technology, or scheduling). Information about a reasonable accommodation is only shared on a need-to-know basis. It is not placed in personnel files and will not be shared with coworkers. If a change affects how others work, they may be informed of the change\u2014but not the reason behind it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"uwhr-toc-top-btn\"><a href=\"#toc\">Return to top<\/a><\/p><h4 id=\"are-accommodations-temporary-or-permanent\">Are accommodations temporary or permanent?<\/h4>\n<p>Most disability accommodations at UW are approved on an ongoing basis\u2014they are not expected to expire or be revisited unless something changes.<\/p>\n<p>That said, accommodations can be reviewed at any time if there are concerns about their effectiveness, reasonableness, or impact on job functions. This allows flexibility if the nature of the role changes, the employee\u2019s medical condition or accommodation needs change, or a department raises specific concerns.<\/p>\n<h5>When are accommodations typically temporary?<\/h5>\n<ul>\n<li>When the medical condition is clearly short-term (like a broken arm)<\/li>\n<li>When the provider\u2019s documentation includes an end date or time-limited recommendation<\/li>\n<li>When a department agrees to implement with a defined review period<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In those cases, we may set a review date\u2014but even then, we\u2019ll revisit the accommodation with care and collaboration, not remove it without discussion.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re not sure how long your accommodation will last, or you\u2019re being told it\u2019s only temporary, you can always reach out to the Leave and Accommodation Team or the Disability Services Office for clarification.<\/p>\n<p class=\"uwhr-toc-top-btn\"><a href=\"#toc\">Return to top<\/a><\/p><h4 id=\"need-help-along-the-way\">Need help along the way?<\/h4>\n<p>If you have questions or experience delays or concerns at any stage:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Staff, academic personnel and student employees<\/strong> can contact their Leave and Accommodation Team specialist or departmental HR office<\/li>\n<li><strong>Faculty<\/strong> can contact the Disability Services Office<\/li>\n<li>All employees may also consult the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washington.edu\/cms\/civilrights\/seeking-support\/disability-and-accessibility\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ADA\/Section 504 Compliance Office<\/a> for support or guidance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a class=\"uw-btn btn-sm btn-none\" href=\"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/dso\/employee\/after-request\/\">Next: What to expect after you submit a request<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"uwhr-toc-top-btn\"><a href=\"#toc\">Return to top<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Whether you are a staff member, student employee, faculty, or academic personnel, support is available to help you navigate the steps and secure the adjustments you need to perform your job effectively.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":0,"parent":802,"menu_order":20,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-809","page","type-page","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - 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