SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL

 

Topic: TESTING ACCOMMODATION
Section: RECRUITMENT AND EXAMINATION
Number: IV.16.
Date Issued: Dec. 16, 1991
Date Revised: Sept. 1999

PURPOSE: 

To define guidelines for making testing accommodation for candidate's with disabilities. 

LEGAL BASIS:

Rehabilitation Act, 1973
American's with Disabilities Act, 1990
Santa Cruz County's Equal Employment Opportunity - Non Discrimination Policy

CROSS REFERENCE:

Section II.7. Reasonable Accommodation

POLICY:

  1. Tests used by the County are content valid to reflect the job related requirements to perform the essential job duties of the job class.

  2. The County will consider alternative methods of accommodating a candidate's disability during the testing process:

    1. upon request from the candidate;

    2. considering the essential job duties of the class;

    3. using methods of testing that reflect those essential duties.

  3. The County application directs applicant's to contact the Personnel Department to discuss these considerations.

  4. County staff will consult with the candidate as to their desire for accommodation.

  5. County staff will consult with the department employing the job class, as to the effect of testing accommodation on the ability to perform the essential job duties of the class for the department. (See II.7. Reasonable Accommodation).

PROCEDURE:

    Upon receipt of a request for testing accommodation, the analyst will contact the candidate and discuss the specifics of the disability and the candidate's requested method of accommodation.

  1. After contacting the department and consideration of the individual's needs, the analyst will inform the candidate of the decision and arrange for special proctoring as required.

  2. The Equal Employment Opportunity Officer and the Employment Services Division (ESD) will be informed in writing or by PROFS by Personnel Department analysts and decentralized Agency Personnel Officers as to the candidate's name, the job class, the test type and the testing accommodation made, and the date of the administration.

  3. The Employment Services Division will track testing accommodations on a county-wide basis.