An accessible hiring process lets an applicant demonstrate the qualifications the job requires. If a form, interview or assessment creates a disability-related barrier, describe the task you need to complete and the adjustment that would help. Keep the job reference, deadline and correspondence together so the recruiter can act on a concrete request.
Describe the problem precisely
Record the job title and reference number, page URL, date, browser or device, and the step that fails. Describe what you expected and what occurred. “The Upload résumé control cannot be reached with the keyboard” is more actionable than “the website is inaccessible.” If you take a screenshot, remove personal details that are unnecessary for investigating the problem.
Look for an accommodations or recruiting contact in the job posting or careers page. If the application itself blocks access, use an available alternate contact to report it. Ask how to preserve your opportunity to apply while the barrier is resolved, particularly when a deadline is close. Keep a copy of the posting and your message.
Ask for the adjustment you need
For US applicants, the EEOC's Job Applicants and the ADA guidance explains reasonable accommodation during hiring for covered employers. A request connects a needed change to a medical condition or disability; it can be made in plain language. The employer may need relevant clarification, and the appropriate arrangement depends on the situation.
Describe the functional need and desired outcome. The discussion might concern an accessible location, a qualified interpreter, an accessible document, an adjusted assessment format or another effective arrangement. An application-stage adjustment and an adjustment for doing the job are separate conversations, even if they overlap.
Confirm the interview arrangements
- Ask what the interview or assessment involves: duration, platform, location, participants and materials.
- Confirm the agreed adjustment, who arranges it and the contact for a problem on the day.
- For a remote interview, test the actual platform with your access tools. Try joining, muting, finding captions or chat, and opening any shared material.
- For an in-person interview, verify the entrance and room you will use, including any access arrangements needed between them.
- Request materials in a usable format with enough time to prepare when that is part of the agreed arrangement.
The Job Accommodation Network's hiring-process guide gives employers practical ways to respond to requests. A recruiter can use the same discussion to establish how the candidate will participate, rather than leaving details to the start of the interview.
Keep the assessment connected to the job
An assessment should enable the applicant to demonstrate the relevant skill. Discuss which part of the format creates the barrier and how an adjustment can preserve what the assessment is intended to measure. For example, an inaccessible response control is a different issue from a test that legitimately evaluates a particular job skill. The EEOC guidance discusses this distinction and the circumstances in which an adjustment may be needed.
After a trial, describe any remaining obstacle with the same specificity used for the application. Keep agreed changes in a short written confirmation. If the offered arrangement fails, explain what still prevents participation and ask to discuss an effective alternative.
Make the route work for applicants
Employers can provide an easily found accommodation contact outside the application form, train recruiters to route requests, and test their complete hiring journey. Include account creation, identity checks, résumé upload, assessments and scheduling. Keep disability-related information within the appropriate confidential process.
JAN's application and interview guidance helps employers distinguish permissible process discussions from inappropriate disability questions. For unresolved rights questions, consult the relevant enforcement agency or a qualified adviser for the jurisdiction and situation; filing routes and time limits should be checked directly. Continue to preserve the facts and correspondence while seeking help.