Reasonable Accommodations

Disability funds are for the placement, reasonable accommodation, and auxiliary services for members and potential members with disabilities serving in National Service programs.

The Massachusetts Service Alliance (MSA) can provide disability funds to any AmeriCorps State, AmeriCorps National, Senior Corps, and Learn and Serve America funded program operating in Massachusetts.

To learn more about disability inclusion funding opportunities, click here.  To apply for disability funds to support reasonable accommodations, click here.

What is a reasonable accommodation?

According to the United States Department of Justice, a reasonable accommodation is any modification or adjustment to a service position or to the service environment that will enable a qualified applicant or National Service member with a disability to participate in the application process or to perform essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodation also includes adjustments to assure that a qualified individual with a disability has rights and privileges in service equal to those of AmeriCorps members, Senior Corps participants, or Learn and Serve participants without disabilities.

Who qualifies for a reasonable accommodation?

All qualified individuals with disabilities applying to or serving in a National Service program are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and can request an accommodation at any time during the application process or service. An individual is considered to have a "disability" if s/he has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment. A qualified individual with a disability is a person who meets legitimate skill, experience, education, or other requirements of a service position that s/he holds or seeks, and who can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. For more information regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), click here.

Apply for Reasonable Accommodation Funding

If you are an organization that currently hosts a Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)-funded program in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and would like to apply for disability funds to support reasonable accommodations for applicants, members, or participants, click here.

If your organization has additional questions about providing reasonable accommodations for National Service participants, or if you are currently serving as an AmeriCorps member, Senior Corps participant, or Learn and Serve participant and have questions about requesting reasonable accommodations, please contact:

Andrea Shaye
Program Officer
Massachusetts Service Alliance
100 North Washington Street, 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02114
617.542.2544 x218
ashaye@mass-service.org