Veterans and the Americans with Disabilities Act: A Guide for Employers

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission document, "Veterans and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): A Guide for Employers" provides information regarding the ADA workplace rights of disabled veterans. It describes how the ADA applies to recruiting, hiring, and accommodating veterans with disabilities, and explains how protections for veterans with disabilities differ under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) and the ADA. The guide also provides information on laws and regulations that employers may find helpful if they want to make recruiting and hiring veterans with disabilities a priority. Answers are provided to many frequently asked questions including:

• What protections does the ADA provide to veterans with disabilities?
• When is a veteran with a disability protected by the ADA?
• May an employer ask if an applicant is a "disabled veteran" if it is seeking to hire someone with a disability?
• Are there are any laws that allow agencies to give special consideration to veterans with disabilities who are looking for jobs with the federal government?
• May a private employer give preference in hiring to an individual with a disability over other applicants?
• What are some specific steps employers may take to recruit and hire veterans with disabilities?
• What types of reasonable accommodations may veterans with disabilities need for the application process or during employment?
• How does an employer know when a veteran with a disability needs an accommodation?
• How does USERRA differ from the ADA?