The Americans with Disabilities Act

A "qualified individual" with a disability is a person who meets legitimate skill, experience, education, or other requirements of an employment position that he or she holds or seeks, and who can perform the "essential functions" of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. If the individual is qualified to perform essential job functions except for limitations caused by a disability, the employer must consider whether the individual could perform these functions with a reasonable accommodation.

If you are a "qualified individual" with a disability as defined above and require an accommodation to complete the essential functions of your position, please complete the online accommodation request form to begin an interactive discussion with your department to determine the type(s) of accommodation(s) you may need.

Employee Request for Reasonable Accommodation Online Form

*Please note that you will need your NSU credentials (NSU username and password) to access the online form.

Yes. Under the ADA, employers are permitted to require an employee to provide documentation that is sufficient to substantiate an ADA disability and ensure the reasonable accommodation being requested is necessary.  

• the nature, severity, and duration of the impairment.
• the job-related activity (or activities) limited by the impairment.
• the extent to which the impairment limits the ability to perform the activity (or activities).
• why the stated accommodation is needed.

• validate the existence of a disability recognized under the ADA. 
• explain the need for a reasonable accommodation.

Documentation also might be insufficient if the submitting health care professional does not have the medical expertise to provide an opinion regarding the employee's medical condition, does not specify functional limitations due to disability, or if there is an indication that the information provided is not credible or fraudulent.

An employer does not have to provide reasonable accommodation until sufficient documentation is provided.

Employers are required to accommodate only a "known" disability of a "qualified individual." If an accommodation is not requested by an employee without a "known disability," then NSU is not obligated to provide one. 

Accommodations are generally triggered by a request from an individual with a disability. Each accommodation request is then reviewed on an individual basis. Due to the varying nature and extent of each individual's disabling condition, accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis and may differ from the individual's original accommodation request.

Employers are not required to make an accommodation if it would impose an "undue hardship" on the operation of the employer's business.

"Undue hardship" is defined as "an action requiring significant difficulty or expense" when considered in light of a number of factors. These factors include the nature and cost of the accommodation in relation to the size, resources, nature, and structure of the employer's operation.