NILG Info Center: Self-Identification
Find out about the important role employers play in encouraging applicants and employees to voluntarily self-identify as a person with a disability.
As mentioned in the “Laws and Regulations for Federal Contractors and Subcontractors” section, covered federal contractors and subcontractors are required to invite applicants and employees to voluntarily self-identify as people with disabilities (applicants at both the pre- and post-offer stage and employees every five years).
While the choice to self-identify as a person with a disability is entirely up to the individual, there are policies, practices, and strategies that employers can implement to create a welcoming and inclusive workplace that encourages self-identification. Doing so helps employers not only ensure they are meeting federal contracting requirements, but also measure progress toward their organization-wide disability inclusion goals.
EARN Resources
- Encouraging Self-ID Webpage
- Disability Disclosure: An Introduction
- Fact Sheet: Encouraging Employees with Disabilities to Self-Identify
- Fact Sheet: Communicating the Benefits of Self-Identification: Five Steps to Success
- NILG and EARN Guide: Engaging Employees to Measure Success: Innovative Approaches to Encouraging Self-Identification of Disability Guide
Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) Resources
- Voluntarily Self-Identification of Disability Form
- Voluntary Self-Identification of Protected Veteran Status Form
- Section 503 Regulations Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)