Federal Employment and Disability Resource List Table of Contents Table of Contents 1 Answers to ADA Questions 1 Federal Employment: Laws and Regulations 2 Federal Agencies: General Employment Resources 2 Federal Agencies: Recruitment of Employees with Disabilities 3 Employees and Applicants with Disabilities: Federal Employment Resources 3 Accommodation Resources 3 Reports on the Federal Work Force 3 Answers to ADA Questions DBTAC: Southeast ADA Center A project of Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University 1-800-949-4232 (voice/TTY) Email: sedbtacproject@law.syr.edu Website: www.sedbtac.org The DBTAC: Southeast ADA Center—a project of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University—is one of ten regional resource centers funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) of the U.S. Department of Education. Our purpose is to provide accurate ADA information, informal technical assistance and training on the ADA to employers, business, government, and people with disabilities. All calls are confidential! Federal Employment: Laws and Regulations Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Coordination of Federal Government Equal Employment Opportunity in the Workplace www.eeoc.gov/abouteeoc/coordination/index.html Federal laws concerning workplace discrimination are enforced by different Federal agencies. The EEOC is responsible for coordinating the Federal government's employment non-discrimination effort. The EEOC is required to review regulations and other EEO policy-related documents before they are issued to ensure consistency in the Federal government's effort to combat workplace discrimination. Excepted Service -- Appointment of Persons with Disabilities and Career and Career-Conditional Appointment (Schedule A Hiring Authority) www.opm.gov/disability/hrpro_3-02.asp Schedule A is an appointing authority, or hiring authority. It is an Excepted Service appointment for persons with disabilities. The regulations guiding the Excepted Service -- Appointment of Persons with Disabilities and Career and Career-Conditional Appointment are found in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 5 CFR § 213.3102(u). Using the Schedule A appointing authority, candidates who meet the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) guidelines can be hired non-competitively without the typical recruitment headaches, without posting and publicizing the position; and v without going through the certificate process. The following documents provide guidance for Hiring Manager, HR Professional, and the Disability Program Manager. * Schedule A for the Hiring Manager www.earnworks.com/docs/SchA_ABCs_HiringManager.pdf (PDF file) www.earnworks.com/docs/SchA_ABCs_HiringManager.doc (Word file) * Schedule A for the Human Resources (HR) Professional www.earnworks.com/docs/SchA_ABCs_HRProf.pdf (PDF file) www.earnworks.com/docs/SchA_ABCs_HRProf.doc (Word file) * Schedule A for the Disability Program Manager www.earnworks.com/docs/SchA_ABCs_SPC-DPM.pdf www.earnworks.com/docs/SchA_ABCs_SPC-DPM.doc Federal Agencies: General Employment Resources Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Information for Federal Agencies www.eeoc.gov/federal/agencies.html Guidance for federal agencies with responsibilities under Federal Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Law. Includes legal resources and Federal Sector EEO data. U.S. Office of Personnel Management: HR Professionals www.opm.gov/disability/hrpro.asp This website is designed to provide human resources professionals with information for recruiting and hiring employees with disabilities and providing reasonable accommodation in appropriate circumstances. Pertinent laws, executive orders, hiring authorities, a model employment plan, and technical information that human resources professionals need to recruit, hire, and retain employees with disabilities are included. It also contains suggestions for working with and integrating people with disabilities into the workforce. U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Managers www.opm.gov/disability/mngr.asp This website is designed for Federal managers to help them understand the laws, hiring authorities, and technical aspects of recruiting, hiring, and retaining employees with disabilities. Certain hiring authorities can be utilized to bring highly qualified people with disabilities into Federal employment rather quickly and managers are encouraged to become familiar with them and utilize them to the greatest extent possible. Information about interviewing people with disabilities, the roles of selective placement coordinators, and the certification process are also included. The resources section includes a list of useful websites and organizations that address disability issues. Federal Agencies: Recruitment of Employees with Disabilities Federal Disability Workforce Consortium (FDWC) www.fdwc.info The FDWC’s mission is to improve the current landscape of employment for people with targeted disabilities within the Federal workforce. The Consortium seeks to expand the current pool of talent within the Federal workforce through improving recruiting, hiring, retention, and advancement of employees with disabilities, especially those with targeted or more severe disabilities. Leadership for the Employment of Americans with Disabilities (LEAD) www.eeoc.gov/initiatives/lead/index.html LEAD is the EEOC's initiative to address the declining number of employees with targeted disabilities in the federal workforce. The goal for this initiative is to significantly increase the population of individuals with severe disabilities employed by the federal government. This national outreach and education campaign seeks to (1) reverse the trend of decreasing participation in federal employment; (2) increase the awareness of hiring officials about the declining numbers of people with disabilities in federal employment; (3) educate federal hiring officials about how to use special hiring authorities to bring people with disabilities on board, particularly those with severe disabilities; (4) educate applicants with severe disabilities about how to apply using the special hiring authorities available; and (5) supply information and resources on recruitment, hiring, and providing reasonable accommodations. Strategic Connections: Recruiting Candidates with Disabilities www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/fact/connect.htm A U.S. Department of Labor Fact Sheet providing resources to help employers recruit individuals with disabilities. Organizations and Publications Regarding Federal Employment of People with Disabilities www.opm.gov/disability/appempl_4-02.asp This site includes a list of links to organizations and publications related to the employment of people with disabilities. Federal Employment of Students with Disabilities www.opm.gov/disability/hrpro_3-05.asp Students can be an excellent source of qualified people with disabilities. Many colleges and universities have career centers and/or disability resource centers that work with students with disabilities to help them find employment, both short and long term. Federal agencies can work with these centers to find qualified students with disabilities who are interested in Federal employment and can contribute to the work of the agency. Employees and Applicants with Disabilities: Federal Employment Resources Questions and Answers for Applicants and Employees with Disabilities and Their Co-Workers www.opm.gov/disability/appempl_4-08.asp This document addresses issues such as how to find out about Federal job openings, how to apply for a job, how to talk about a disability during an interview and how to request a reasonable accommodation if one is needed. U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Information for Potential Applicants and Current Federal Employees www.opm.gov/disability/appempl.asp This website contains information for potential applicants and current Federal employees that describe how to get a Federal job, how positions are filled, how reasonable accommodations are made, and includes resources that can assist with a wide range of issues that pertain to the Federal employment of adults with disabilities. EEOC Information for Federal Employees www.eeoc.gov/federal/employees.html Guidance for federal employees about Federal Sector EEO Process, Federal equal employment opportunity laws, discriminatory practices, and other legal resources. Facts about Federal Sector Equal Employment Opportunity Complaint Processing Regulations www.eeoc.gov/facts/fs-fed.html Information Sheet about the EEOC complaint process. Accommodation Resources Advancing Opportunities: Accommodations Resources for Federal Managers and Employees www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/misc/advance.htm This site lists a variety of resources that are available to assist federal managers in making accommodations so they can hire, retain and advance qualified individuals with disabilities. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Internal Accommodation Procedures www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/accommodation_procedures_eeoc.html Questions and Answers: Policy Guidance On Executive Order 13164: Establishing Procedures to Facilitate the Provision of Reasonable Accommodation www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/qanda-accommodation_procedures.html Job Accommodation Network www.jan.wvu.edu 1-800-526-7234 (voice); 1-877-781-9403 (tty) The Job Accommodation Network is a free consulting service designed to increase the employability of people with disabilities by: (1) providing individualized worksite accommodations solutions, (2) providing technical assistance regarding the ADA and other disability related legislation, and (3) educating callers about self-employment options. Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program The U.S. Department of Defense sponsors this program to provide assistive technology and training to properly use the devices to people with disabilities. www.tricare.mil/cap/ Accommodation Toolbox www.jan.wvu.edu/links/#Tool Includes JAN Publications, a Searchable Online Accommodation Resource (SOAR) database, specific disability resources, JAN Newsletters. Reports on the Federal Work Force Improving the Participation Rate of People with Targeted Disabilities in the Federal Work Force www.eeoc.gov/federal/report/pwtd.html (HTML file) www.eeoc.gov/federal/report/pwtd.pdf (PDF file) The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued a comprehensive report addressing strategies to reverse the declining participation rate of federal employees with targeted disabilities. The report reiterates the call for the federal government to be the nation's model employer, providing equal opportunity to all Americans, including those with disabilities. Reforming Federal Hiring -- Beyond Faster and Cheaper www.mspb.gov/netsearch/viewdocs.aspx?docnumber=224102&version=224321&application=ACROBAT The U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) has conducted numerous studies over the years that address various pieces of the Federal hiring system. This perspectives report brings together some of the key issues presented in these past reports. Specifically, the purpose of this report is to inform reform efforts by: (1) summarizing key findings of recent MSPB research on hiring issues, (2) articulating the Board’s perspective regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the Federal hiring system, and (3) identifying and promoting hiring practices that support merit-based selection. Federal Employment and Disability Resources Page 6 of 6 DBTAC: SOutheast ADA Center 1419 Mayson Street, Atlanta, GA 30324 Phone: (404) 541-9001 (v/tty) or (800) 949-4232 (v/tty) Fax: (404) 541-9002 Email: sedbtacproject@law.syr.edu Web: www.sedbtac.org Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research of the U.S. Department of Education #H133A060094