Leadership for the Employment of Americans with Disabilities

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Leadership for the Employment of Americans with
Disabilities

• Employment in the Federal Sector for People with
  Disabilities
• Cornell University / AAPD Forum March 21, 2008

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(No Transcript)
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The Latest Statistics (FY06)

• 2.6 million federal employees in FY 2006
• 57.0 were men
• 43.0 were women
• 66.2 were White
• 18.4 were Black or African American
• 8.0 were Hispanic or Latino
• 6.0 were Asian
• 0.2 were Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander
• 2.0 were American Indian/Alaska Native
• 0.1 were Persons of Two or More Races
• 0.94 were Individuals with
• Targeted Disabilities

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The Latest Statistics

• Highest Population of PWTD Overall
• EEOC 2.37
• SSA 2.07
• DFAS 1.99
• DLA 1.92
• GPO 1.74

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The Latest Statistics
Rank of the Cabinet Level Agencies by PWTD

• The Top Three . . .
• 1. Treasury 1.73
• 2. VA 1.49
• 3. Education 1.36

• And the Bottom Three . . .
• 13. DHS 0.42
• 14. DOJ 0.39
• 15. State 0.36

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The Latest Statistics

• From FY 1997 to FY 2006, the total federal
  workforce increased by 135,732 employees, which
  represents an increase of 5.48.
• During this same ten year period, the number of
  employees with targeted disabilities decreased
  from 28,671 to 24,442, which represents a
  decrease of -14.75.
• In other words, over the last decade the
  government grew by 5½ overall, but we still lost
  almost 15 of all people with severe disabilities.

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The Latest Statistics

• Average GS Pay Levels
• FY06 Average Grade
• All federal employees 10.00
• Individuals with Tar. Disabilities 8.50
• FY05 Average Pay Grade Level
• All federal employees 9.98
• Individuals with Tar. Disabilities 8.43
• FY06 Senior Executive Service (SES)
• Total SES employees 20,070
• SES with Tar. Disabilities 93 (0.46)

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The Latest Statistics

• In just one year, from FY 2005 to FY 2006, the
  federal work force increased overall by
  approximately 570 people. During this same
  period, the federal workforce of employees with
  severe disabilities decreased by 700.
• Additionally, despite having 1,503 new hires who
  are PWTD in FY05, 2,197 PWTD left the federal
  workforce in FY 2005.

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Solutions

• Make this issue a priority
• Agencies must set a goal every year!
• Share the goal with hiring mangers
• Then hold them accountable

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Solutions

• Train all agency personnel on
• Responsibilities under the Rehabilitation Act
• How to special hiring authorities
• Reasonable accommodations

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Solutions Recruitment

• EARN The Employer Assistance Recruiting
  Network (EARN) is a free service that connects
  employers looking for quality employees with
  skilled job candidates. Further information can
  be found at http//earnworks.com/.
• WRP The Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) is
  a recruitment and referral program that connects
  federal sector employers nationwide with highly
  motivated postsecondary students and recent
  graduates with disabilities Further information
  can be found at http//wrp.gov.

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Solutions Recruitment

• For Veterans with Disabilities -
• The Department of Labors (DOL) Veterans
  Employment Training Service http//www.dol.gov/v
  ets/welcome.html
• Hire Heroes http//www.hireheroesusa.org/
• Wounded Warriors Project http//www.woundedwarrior
  project.org

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Solutions Recruitment

• Advocacy Groups
• American Association of People with Disabilities
  http//www.aapd-dc.org/
• National Council on Independent Living
  http//www.ncil.org/
• Council of State Administrators of Vocational
  Rehabilitation http//www.rehabnetwork.org/
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Government
  http//dhhig.org/
• American Council of the Blind http//www.acb.org/

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Solutions Hiring

• Schedule A Hiring Authority
• 5 CFR 213.3102(u)
• No competition required
• No vacancy announcement required
• Traditional process can be completely by-passed

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Solutions Hiring

• Schedule A Hiring Authority
• Contact DPM/SPC at your agency
• Review resumes and references of Sch A eligible
  applicants
• Make selection
• Any accommodations needed?
• Bring the new employee on board!

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Solutions Accommodations

• Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP)
• CAP was established in 1990 as DoDs centrally
  funded program to provide accommodations
• Expanded by Congress in 2000 to support other
  Federal agencies
• Partnerships with 65 Federal agencies
• Over 61,000 accommodations since inception
• CAP Mission To provide assistive technology and
  accommodations to ensure people with disabilities
  have
• equal access to the information environment
  and
• opportunities in the Department of Defense
  and
• throughout the Federal government

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LEAD GOAL

• 2 by 2010
• for ALL AGENCIES!