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There are many organizations that can serve as sources of candidates with disabilities who are ready to work. When agencies are working with these organizations to identify candidates, agencies should clearly identify the qualifications needed for the jobs they are filling. Agencies should inform the organization that a person with a disability must receive a certification of disability from the State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency or the Department of Veterans Affairs to receive a Schedule A appointment leading to a continuing position. This section describes recruiting sources for candidates with disabilities.
State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies
The Department of Education’s oversees formula and discretionary grant
programs that help individuals with physical or mental disabilities obtain employment
and live more independently through the provision of such supports as counseling,
medical and psychological services, job training and other individualized services.
RSA's major Title I formula grant program provides funds to state vocational
rehabilitation agencies
to provide employment-related services for individuals with disabilities.
Department of Veterans Affairs
The essence of the Department of Veterans Affairs, program is to assist those veterans
who have incurred injuries during active duty in the military to obtain and
maintain suitable employment.
To support this mission, the VR&E program has initiated the Employment
Specialist (ES) program. The ES works directly with prospective employers and
VR&E case managers in an effort to cultivate partnerships and most importantly,
identify career opportunities for veterans that exist when they complete their
program of rehabilitation. The ES serves employers by acting as a human resource
consultant, matching their labor demands with skilled, well-trained veteran-employees.
The Employer Assistance Referral Network
The U.S. Department of Labor’s has
implemented a free nationwide employer service to increase the representation
of people with disabilities in the workforce. The became available to the public March 1,
2001 and is designed to assist employers in locating and recruiting qualified
workers with disabilities.
Ticket to Work
The Social Security Administration (SSA) manages the Nation’s social insurance
program consisting of retirement, survivors and disability programs, commonly
known as Social Security. SSA also administers the Supplemental Security Income
(SSI) Program for the aged, blind and disabled. One of SSA’s highest priorities
is to help people with disabilities achieve independence by helping them to
find gainful employment.
The SSA's is now in the
process of implementing the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act
of 1999. Section 101(a) of the law establishes the and Self-Sufficiency Program. The Ticket
to Work Program will make more service providers available to Social Security
and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries with disabilities who are
seeking employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, and other support
services. It will assist them in obtaining, regaining, and maintaining self-supporting
employment. SSA will phase in the Ticket to Work Program nationally over a 3
year period beginning in 2002. The initial Ticket release will include beneficiaries
in 13 States-Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts,
New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont and Wisconsin. The Ticket
release will coincide with approval of final regulations.
Workforce Recruitment Program
The
can provide agencies
with a list of students with disabilities who are interested in employment.
Coordinated by the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment
Policy and the U.S. Department of Defense, the WRP aims to provide summer work
experience, and in some cases permanent employment, for college students and
recent graduates with disabilities. The program partners with other Federal
agencies, each of which makes a commitment to provide summer jobs.
Colleges and Universities
Many colleges and universities have career centers and/or disability resource
centers that work with students with disabilities. Agencies can work with the
centers to find qualified students with disabilities who are interested in Federal
employment and can contribute to the work of the agency.
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