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Employment Information for People With Disabilities

General Information

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you have a disability that meets the definition as prescribed by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Pub. L. 93-112) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Pub. L.101-336), you may be may be hired through the traditional competitive hiring process or by means of a noncompetitive, excepted appointing authority.

Reasonable Accommodation

EPA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the job application and hiring process, please notify the human resources specialist listed on the vacancy announcement, contact an EPA Human Resources Office at the location in which you are seeking employment, or send an email message to feedback.hr@epa.gov The decision on granting a reasonable accommodation is handled on a case-by-case basis.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered as an individual with a disability, a person must meet the following criteria: (1) has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of a person's major life activities, (2) has a record of such an impairment, or (3) is regarded as having such an impairment. For additional information consult the EEOC web site at http.

Special Appointing Authorities

Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has established special appointing authorities for people with disabilities. EPA has the authority to use a special appointing authority to hire a qualified person with a disability for vacant positions. These special appointing authorities include:

Schedule A, 5 CFR 213.3102(ll) for hiring readers, interpreters, and personal assistants. This excepted authority is used to appoint readers, interpreters, and personal assistants for employees with severe disabilities. After one year of satisfactory service, they may qualify for conversion to permanent status.

Schedule A, 5 CFR 213.3102(t) for hiring people with mental retardation. This excepted authority is used to appoint persons with cognitive disabilities (mental retardation). They may qualify for conversion to permanent status after two years of satisfactory service.

Schedule A, 5 CFR 213.3102(u) for hiring people with severe physical disabilities. This excepted authority is used to appoint persons with severe physical disabilities who have demonstrated satisfactory performance through a temporary appointment, or have been certified as likely to succeed in performing the duties of the job. After two years of satisfactory service, they may qualify for conversion to permanent status.

5 CFR 213.3102(gg) - Positions filled by persons with psychiatric disabilities who have demonstrated their ability to perform satisfactorily under a temporary appointment [such as one authorized in 213.3102(i)(3)] or who are certified as likely to be able to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, by a State vocational rehabilitation counselor, a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Benefits Administration psychologist, vocational rehabilitation counselor, or psychiatrist. Upon completion of 2 years of satisfactory service under this authority, the employee can be converted, at the discretion of the agency, to competitive status under the provisions of Executive Order 12125 as amended by Executive Order 13124.

For additional information on the employment of people with disabilities within the Federal Government, please visit the Office of Personnel Management website http://www.opm.gov/disability.

 

 
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