Disability
Army Disability Awards Program
Award Winners
RESOURCE REFERENCE: AR 690-12, SECTION 5.8
DA
Award for the Best Disability Program
DA
Award for the Outstanding Army Employee with a Disability
DA Award for the Outstanding Army Employee with a Disability
DA Award for the Outstanding Army Employee with a Disability is awarded
annually. The purpose of the award is to identify, recognize, and publicize
the achievements of outstanding employees with disabilities who have made
significant contributions to the Army mission, thereby helping to open
employment opportunities for other persons with disabilities. Outstanding
Disabled Army Employee of the Year Award. To be eligible for consideration
this award, Army employees must meet the following criteria:
- Job performance must clearly exceeded requirements by over-coming severely
limiting physical factors.
- The job performance must include performance within one year
preceding the nomination. The existence of official recognition
for performance in the form of an Exceptional Performance Rating,
Quality Increase, or Special Achievement Award (Sustained Superior
Performance) during the year preceding the nomination should support
the nomination, but is not necessary. Where the employee has not
had such official recognition, the nominating official must certify
that the nominee's job performance clearly exceeded performance
requirements during the year preceding the nomination. Repeated
recognition for performance during the nominee's career would
clearly reflect continuing exemplary performance. Advancement
to higher-level positions will be a factor in support of continuing
professional development.
- The term "severely limiting physical factors" refers to the
material physical impairments that ordinarily would prove a serious
hindrance to securing employment. The impairments must be significant,
rather than slight, and relatively permanent in that they usually
are not correctable by medical means. It is not necessary that
the physical impairment of the nominee be so severe that they
qualify medically for an excepted appointment under Schedule A,
Section 13.3102(u) or (t). Since "selective placement" (that is,
the careful matching of abilities with the duties of the position)
is one of the main objectives of the program, it is not necessary
that the physical disability involved be severe in direct relationship
to the duties of the position.
- Perseverance and initiative in overcoming a disability that
serves as an inspiration to others and results in a positive influence
toward opening opportunities for persons with disabilities in
the Federal service. The severity, nature, and uniqueness of the
disability, as well as its relationship to the job, play an important
role in determining the perseverance and initiative necessary
to overcome the disability.
- The following factors will be considered in rating the nominee:
- Initiative, inspiration, and involvement. Based on rater's
judgment, assign 0-5 points for each of these factors for a maximum
of 15 points for all three.
- Consider the nominee's perseverance and initiative in overcoming
his or her disability.
- How the individual's actions served as an inspiration to
other disabled persons and resulted in opening opportunities
for them.
- Consider nominee's individual and community involvement
to assist handicapped and disadvantaged persons achieve their
full potential.
- Degree of disability. Consider the severity of nominee's disability
in terms of duties of positions as follows:
- Slight-10 points.
- Moderate-15 points.
- Severe-20 points.
- Agency recognition. Assign points for agency recognition as
indicated below.
- Letters of appreciation and similar recognition, 1-5 points.
- Quality step increases, special achievement awards, and
similar recognition, 5-10 points.
- Exceptional performance ratings or comparable ratings,
10-15 points.
- Exceptional record of awards or comparable recognition,
15-20 points.
- Other recognition. Based on rater's judgment, assign 1-10 points
for recognition received from outside the nominee's agency from
such sources as other Federal, State, local agencies, professional
associations, and community organizations that show achievement
by the nominee in spite of impairment.
- Performance of duties. Assign 5-20 points. Consider the uniqueness
of the nominee's duties in relation to his or her disability,
as supported by an evaluation by the nominating officials. Department
of the Army personnel previously as the DA nominee should not
be re-nominated unless he or she has demonstrated significant
employment accomplishments over and above that covered in the
previous nomination(s). MACOMs and independent reporting activities
must provide a written statement of justification for re-nomination
of a previous DA award winner.
- PMIWD at all levels:
- Will monitor procedures for nominating and selecting nominees for
the award. Incentive awards personnel may process nominations.
- Should use their knowledge of individuals with disability on the
rolls to assist management officials in identifying prospective nominees.
- Major Army commanders and heads of independent reporting activities
are strongly encouraged to submit one nomination for this annual award.
They are also encouraged to establish their own Disabled Employee of the
Year Award Program to coincide with the DA program.
- Documentation for the award will include:
- A completed DA Form 1256 (Incentive Award Nomination and Approval).
- A citation of not more than 100 words, highlighting the significance
of the nominee's achievements.
- A biographical sketch of the nominee.
- Significant employment history.
- A summary of achievements that impact on the Army's EEO program
progress and includes other awards or honors received. The summary
must be specific in substantiating actions or projects that are the
basis for the nomination.
- Six 8- by 10-inch glossy black and white photograph of the employee
at his or her work site. Some employees with disabilities may not wish
to be considered for nomination and others may not want their photograph
used for publicity or promotion purposes. Employees who wish to have
their photographs used will sign and date the following employees'
agreement: "Use of the attached nomination and photos by the U.S. Government
for publicity and promotion of the Army Disability Awards Program is
hereby authorized."
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DA Award for the Best Disability Program
DA Award for the Best Disability Program is awarded annually as appropriate.
The purpose of the award is to recognizes an Army activity or installation
that has supported the overall purpose of the IWDP by development and implementation
of creative and innovative actions that resulted in an increase in the
representation of individuals with disabilities (IWD) in the workforce.
The Award when made is presented during the Ceremonies scheduled during
National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October.
- To be eligible for considerations for the "Best Disability Program" award
the following factors must be submitted for consideration:
- Statement of Justification. A description of what has been
developed and implemented to achieve exceptional disability, disabled
veterans and workers' compensation programs. When discussing your
worker's compensation program, significant money saving initiatives/data
should be included. (40 points)
- Current Statistical Profile. Suggest activity IWD representation
be at or above the DoD goals, as measured against the total work
force, i.e., 7% disabled and 2% targeted disabled; and/or, an
increase in the representation of IWD in the workforce over the
recent past (2-4 years) that are directly attributable to program
initiatives. (20 points)
- Recognition. State and/or local recognition, awards, citations,
etc., Received as a result of community involvement, impact and/or
program achievement in the area of employment of IWD. Include
a statement for each award received explaining its purpose and
significance. (20 points)
- MACOM/independent reporting activity (IRA) Recommendation.
Include an explanation of the criteria used to evaluate the nominations
received and a statement of justification for supporting the nomination
of a particular activity/installation as the "best disability
program." Award recipient. (20 points)
- Nominating officials should be advised that nominations are to include
all information requested and any other information they feel will strengthen
the nomination. The nomination will be the sole basis for selection and,
therefore, special care should be taken to assure that the submission
is correctly prepared and does justice to the nominee.
- MACOM and IRA may submit one nomination in each category. Award nominations
must be received by HQDA (SAMR-SFEOA), 1941 JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY, CM#4,
SUITE 207, ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA 22206-4508, no later than 30 May of each
year (unless notified otherwise). Extensions will not be approved due
to the time frames established to meet DoD requirements.
- A special ad hoc committee at HQDA will select the awardee in each
category from among those received. The Outstanding Army Disabled Employee
of the Year will receive the Meritorious Civilian Service Award signed
by the Secretary of the Army at a DA ceremony in the Pentagon The individual
selected for the DA award automatically becomes the Army recipient of
the DoD Outstanding Disabled Employee of the Year. An appropriate plaque
will be presented to the Best Disability Program activity or installation
by the Secretary of the Army at a DA ceremony in the Pentagon. Travel
expenses for the activity or installation awardees will be absorbed by
the activity or installation.
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