Each year, the AmeriCorps, the federal agency, makes funds available to help cover the costs of providing reasonable accommodations to AmeriCorps members. AmeriCorps promotes inclusive service environments, where disability is valued as a part of the range of diversity that exists in the human condition, and persons with disabilities are welcomed and given every opportunity for full inclusion and participation in national service.
AmeriCorps Texas grantees are eligible to submit requests for reimbursement of the costs associated with providing reasonable accommodations to a current AmeriCorps member with a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the ADA Amendment Act of 2008. To request reimbursement, please complete the form below.
Please note:
- Funds are for reimbursement of costs already incurred. Advance payments to cover reasonable accommodations are not available.
- Reasonable accommodation reimbursement funds are available on a noncompetitive basis and requests are processed in the order in which they are received. Funding is limited and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Documentation verifying that the goods or services needed to provide a reasonable accommodation were procured in conformance with the procurement standard specified in 2 C.F.R. 200.317-200.326 must be retained and produced upon request.
- Documentation by the member verifying that the accommodation was provided must be retained and produced upon request.
- Reimbursements can be one-time or quarterly. One-time requests can be submitted at any time. If you intend to request reimbursement for multiple expenses throughout the year, your initial request must estimate what your total reimbursable expenses will be.
- Many individuals with disabilities may already be clients of the Department of
Vocational Rehabilitation (a.k.a. “RSA”), an agency that exists in each state, dedicated
to training and supporting people with disabilities in search of gainful employment.
Please visit the directory of state-based Vocational Rehabilitation agencies.
- Each state also has an assistive technology program which can assist with information
and referral, loan, and technical assistance questions. Please visit the directory
organized by state.
- Grantees are not required to obtain documentation that the service member has a
disability if the disability is apparent. The grantee should obtain documentation from
a medical or rehabilitation expert to better understand the need for the reasonable
accommodation for member requests where a disability is not apparent, or the
accommodation request is not straightforward. These professionals can also verify
that someone meets disability status. Please note, there is much broader coverage
under the ADA after the Amendments in 2008.
For additional questions, please contact Betty Jo Schafer at bettyjo@onestarfoundation.org and copy your Program and Grants Officers.