Voluntary Disability Self-Identification (Section 503)

# Voluntary Disability Self-Identification (Section 503) --- ## Why We Ask **___________** is a federal contractor subject to the affirmative action obligations of Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. We are required to invite you to voluntarily self-identify as an individual with a disability. This invitation is extended to all employees at regular intervals. We are committed to an inclusive workplace and to taking affirmative steps to recruit, hire, promote, and retain individuals with disabilities. --- ## Your Participation Is Voluntary **Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so.** Your answer will be maintained confidentially and will not be seen by, or shared with, the specific individuals making employment decisions about you, including your supervisor. Providing or declining to provide this information will not affect your employment with our company in any way. An employee or applicant who has a disability that prevents him or her from using our online tools to complete this form, or who requires an accommodation to complete it in a different format, may contact HR for assistance: **HR Contact:** ___________ **HR Phone / Email:** ___________ --- ## What Is a Disability? Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 503, a disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that **substantially limits one or more major life activities.** Major life activities include, but are not limited to: - Caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working. - The operation of a major bodily function, including functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions. You are considered to have a disability if you have a physical or mental impairment or medical condition that substantially limits a major life activity, or if you have a history or record of such an impairment or medical condition. **Disabilities include, but are not limited to:** autism, autoimmune disorder (e.g., lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS), blind or low vision, cancer (past or present), cardiovascular or heart disease, celiac disease, cerebral palsy, deaf or hard of hearing, depression or anxiety, diabetes, epilepsy or seizure disorder, gastrointestinal disorders (e.g., Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome), intellectual or developmental disability, missing limbs or partially missing limbs, mobility impairment (including using a wheelchair), nervous system condition (e.g., migraine headaches, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis), neurodivergence (e.g., ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia), partial or complete paralysis, psychiatric condition (e.g., bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD), and traumatic brain injury. --- ## Employee Information