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process and any other meetings with SARA staff • Displaying posters and other housing information in locations throughout SAHA's office in such a manner as to be easily readable from a wheelchair 2-II.C. REQUEST FOR AN ACCOMMODATION If an applicant or participant indicates that an exception, change, or adjustment to a rule, policy, practice, or service is needed because of a disability, HUD requires that SARA treat the information as a request for a reasonable accommodation, even if no formal request is made. The family must explain what type of accommodation is needed to provide the person with the disability full access to SAHA's programs and services. If the need for the accommodation is not readily apparent or known to SARA, the family must explain the relationship between the requested accommodation and the disability. There must be an identifiable relationship, or nexus, between the requested accommodation and the individual's disability. SARA will encourage the family to make its request in writing using a reasonable accommodation request form. However, SARA will consider the accommodation any time the family indicates that an accommodation is needed whether or not a formal written request is submitted. 2-II.D. VERIFICATION OF DISABILITY The regulatory civil rights definition for persons with disabilities is provided in Exhibit 2-1 at the end of this chapter. The definition of a person with a disability for the purpose of obtaining a reasonable accommodation is much broader than the HUD definition of disability which is used for waiting list preferences and income allowances. Before providing an accommodation, SARA must determine that the person meets the definition of a person with a disability, and that the accommodation will enhance the family's access to SAHA's programs and services. If a person's disability is obvious or otherwise known to SARA, and if the need for the requested accommodation is also readily apparent or known, no further verification will be required [Joint Statement of the Departments of HUD and Justice: Reasonable Accommodations under the Fair Housing Act] . If a family indicates that an accommodation is required for a disability that is not obvious or otherwise known to SARA, SARA must verify that the person meets the definition of a person with a disability, and that the limitations imposed by the disability require the requested accommo anon. When verifying a disability, SARA will follow the verification policies provided in Chapter 7. All information related to a person's disability will be treated in accordance with the confidentiality policies provided in Chapter 16. In addition to the general requirements that govern all verification efforts, the following requirements apply when verifying a disability: • Third-party verification must be obtained from an individual identified by the family who is competent to make the determination. A doctor or other medical professional, a peer support group, anon-medical service agency, or a reliable third party who is in a position to know Page 2-5 ~~02~2012