EEOC Statement on Joint Memorandum on Disability Self-Identification

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is pleased to announce the release of a joint memorandum with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to all federal Chief Human Capital Officers.  The joint memorandum highlights revisions to OPM's SF-256 Self-Identification of Disability Form.  The revised SF-256 was designed to assist federal agencies in increasing the employment of people with disabilities and particularly employees with targeted or severe disabilities.  The revisions make it easier for employees with disabilities to self-identify during on-boarding or when their disability status changes during their career.  The revisions also simplify the terminology within the form, better define the medical conditions listed, and allow employees to indicate they have a disability without having to specify their medical diagnosis. 

"This memorandum is a result of the ongoing collaboration between the EEOC and OPM to make the federal government a model employer of people with disabilities," said Acting Chair Victoria A. Lipnic.  "I want to thank Commissioner Chai Feldblum for her work on this effort and her longtime commitment to people with disabilities.  The EEOC looks forward to continued collaboration with OPM and all federal agencies in this work."

The joint EEOC-OPM memorandum also provides additional resources to assist agencies.  Of particular note is the Federal Exchange on Employment & Disability, an interagency group managed through the Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), and its contactor, the Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN).  ODEP is a key partner with the EEOC and OPM in the effort to increase opportunities for people with disabilities.  For more information, please visit the ODEP and EARN websites.