Hiring authority makes it easier to hire disabled employees

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Hiring authority makes it easier to hire disabled employees

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123126112

by 2nd Lt. Vaccaro

Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs

12/1/2008 - RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- Air Force

officials are working to increase manager understanding of how to

hire qualified people with disabilities. The Schedule A hiring

authority, a noncompetitive government hiring process, allows federal

employers to hire qualified people with mental retardation, severe

physical disabilities or psychiatric disabilities to civilian

positions.

" While the Schedule A hiring authority is not new, it seems to have

been under publicized, " said Siples, the human resources

specialist for the program oversight office at the Air Force

Personnel Center here. " Schedule A is designed to remove barriers for

people with disabilities to get hired and to increase employment

opportunities for persons with disabilities. "

Air Force officials have set a goal to be the employer of choice in

the disability community and is working toward achieving a Department

of Defense goal to have 2 percent of its workforce comprised of

individuals with targeted disabilities by the year 2010. According to

the Air Force Equal Opportunity and Diversity Program Office, known

as AF/A1Q, the Air Force is still at less than 1 percent.

The Schedule A hiring authority allows federal employers to quickly

fill positions with qualified individuals with disabilities. The

process is non-competitive, which means human resources specialists

and/or selective placement coordinators send resumes of qualified

applicants directly to managers. If a manager likes the resume, he

has the option to hire the individual immediately.

With Schedule A, employers can hire a candidate without the typical

posting and publicizing of the position that the competitive

recruitment process requires. Schedule A eliminates many of the

competitive hiring steps, reducing the time it takes to fill a needed

position.

" This is an excellent opportunity for managers to make a difference

by hiring people with disabilities into the workforce, to continue to

build and enhance the force with people from diverse backgrounds, "

Ms. Siples said. " People with diverse backgrounds bring so much to

the workplace. "

To be eligible for noncompetitive appointment using the Schedule A

hiring authority, candidates must obtain written proof of disability

and a certification of job readiness from a licensed medical

professional, a state or private vocational rehabilitation

specialist, or any government agency that issues or provides

disability benefits. Candidates must also meet the Office of

Personnel Management's qualification standards for all positions he

is applying for.

The requirements for each position, such as education and experience,

are listed on the OPM Web site. The site also contains information

about the hiring process for people with disabilities and even has a

list of selective placement coordinators for each federal agency.

Individuals with disabilities may apply for noncompetitive

appointment through the Schedule A hiring authority by submitting an

application and any necessary supporting documentation directly to

the selective placement coordinator or equivalent.

" We are optimistic that we can reach the DOD goal of 2 percent by

2010, " Ms. Siples said. " We have seen a significant increase in

interest in the schedule A program since September. "

The AF/A1Q continues to raise awareness of the program among managers

and potential candidates. Air Force officials have formed a people

with disabilities working group to develop a plan to increase the

number of employees with disabilities in the Air Force workforce.

For more information about the Schedule A hiring authority and

options for people with disabilities, visit the OPM Web site,

http://www.opm.gov/, or AFPC's " Ask " Web Site and search " disability

employment. "