Which question is allowed in a candidate interview to assess accommodation needs under the ADA?

• A. Are you able to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation?
• B. What is your age?
• C. Do you have any disabilities?
• D. What country were you born in?

Answer: (A)

When assessing accommodation needs under the ADA, the focus should be on the candidate’s ability to perform the job duties and what accommodations, if any, would enable them to do so. The best question asks whether the candidate can perform essential duties with or without reasonable accommodation. This directly addresses potential workplace needs without touching protected characteristics, keeping the inquiry job-related and compliant.

Asking about disability status, age, or country of birth crosses into protected information that employers are generally prohibited from soliciting during interviews. Those questions can lead to bias and violate laws aimed at preventing discrimination, whereas the allowed question centers on actual job performance and the possibility of reasonable accommodations.