Recruitment Resources

Selective Placement Program Managers
Most federal agencies have a Selective Placement Program Manager (SPPM), or equivalent, who helps to recruit, hire, and accommodate people with disabilities at that agency. Find contact information for SPPMs at DHS.

OPM’s Recruitment Brochure
The Office of Personnel Management provides an informative recruitment brochure (www.opm.gov/disability/text_files/3-06_RecruitmentBrochure.pdf) (PDF – 2 pp.) and other resources (www.opm.gov/disability) for your use in recruiting and hiring people with disabilities.

Disability.gov
People with disabilities are an often untapped source of skilled, innovative, and dedicated employees. Disability.gov (www.disability.gov), the federal government’s one-stop interagency website for people with disabilities and employers, offers practical information about finding a job, recruiting, and hiring people with disabilities.

The Recruiting and Hiring Section (www.disability.gov/employment/employing_people_with_disabilities/recruiting_%26_hiring) has links to many resources, including job boards, such as:

• ABILITYJobs (www.jobaccess.org/employers.htm) helps employers find qualified workers with disabilities. Sign up to post jobs or view the resumes of hundreds of qualified people with disabilities.
• AbilityLinks (www.abilitylinks.org) is an online community where jobseekers with disabilities can post resumes, apply for jobs, and network with inclusive employers and service providers for free. Employers can also use the site to post employment opportunities and identify qualified candidates.
• Disaboom Jobs (www.disaboomjobs.com) is a job-matching (resume and job-posting) site for recruiting applicants with disabilities.
• DiversityWorld (www.diversityworld.com/Disability/recruit.htm) provides a listing of recruiting resources.

Employer Assistance and Resource Network (EARN)
EARNWorks.com (www.earnworks.com), a service of the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (www.dol.gov/odep/), provides employers with confidential, no-cost consultation, customized technical assistance, and resources to support their diversity and inclusion efforts by integrating employees and veterans with disabilities into the workplace.

EARN’s online tools and resources (www.earnworks.com/employers/tools/index.asp) assist human resource professionals and business managers make informed decisions regarding disability employment. Tools include “making a business case for recruiting and hiring persons with disabilities” and “hiring authorities for federal employers.”

Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP)
The Workforce Recruitment Program (www.wrp.gov) is a national recruitment and referral program for postsecondary students with disabilities, coordinated by the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (http://www.dol.gov/odep/programs/workforc.htm). The program connects federal and private sector employers with postsecondary students with disabilities interested in both summer and permanent jobs. Annually, trained federal recruiters conduct personal interviews on more than 200 college and university campuses.

The WRP database is available to Federal Human Resource Specialists, Equal Opportunity Employment Specialists, and other hiring officials in federal agencies at the WRP website (www.wrp.gov).

Internship Programs and Sources for Recruiting Students to Federal Service:

• USAJOBS offers a Student Jobs center (www.usajobs.gov/studentjobs) focusing on student educational employment. Federal agencies can post positions.
• Gallaudet University offers programs in liberal arts education and career development for deaf and hard–of–hearing undergraduate students. The University’s Career Center (careercenter.gallaudet.edu) provides the opportunity for employers to recruit and interview diverse, talented, and highly-qualified groups of students and recent graduates on or off of campus.
  • Many colleges and universities have career centers or disability resource centers that work with students with disabilities. Networking with these centers helps you find qualified students with disabilities who are interested in federal employment and who have the requisite skills to contribute to achieving your mission.
• The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) offers a summer internship program (www.aapd.com/site/c.pvI1IkNWJqE/b.6388937/k.63DF/AAPD_Internship_Programs.htm) designed specifically for college and university students with disabilities. Students participate in an internship at a federal agency in Washington, D.C.
• The Washington Center for Internship and Academic Seminars (www.twc.edu) is an independent, nonprofit organization serving hundreds of colleges and universities in the United States and other countries by providing selected student opportunities to work and learn in Washington, D.C. for academic credit.

What Can You Do? The Campaign for Disability Employment
The Campaign for Disability Employment (www.whatcanyoudocampaign.org) is a collaborative effort, funded by the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, to promote positive employment outcomes for people with disabilities by encouraging employers and others to recognize the value and talent they bring to the workplace. Visit the employer page (www.whatcanyoudocampaign.org/blog/index.php/what-can-employers-do) to learn how you can capitalize on the talents of people with disabilities and access resources to assist in recruiting, retaining and advancing skilled, qualified employees.

State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies
State vocational rehabilitation agencies (wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/Programs/EROD/org_list.cfm?category_ID=SVR) coordinate and provide counseling, evaluation, and job placement services for people with disabilities.

The Social Security Administration also maintains a list of service providers participating in the Ticket to Work program (secure.ssa.gov/apps10/oesp/providers.nsf/bystate).

Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008
Federal law prohibits discrimination in health coverage and employment based on genetic information. Read more on the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) of 2008 (www.genome.gov/24519851) from the National Institutes of Health.

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Interviewing Resources

Recruitment and Interviewing Tools
EARNworks.com provides useful interviewing and communication tools (www.earnworks.com/employers/tools/index.asp#interview), including:

• Communication Tips
• Attitudinal Barriers
• Focus on Ability: Interviewing Applicants with Disabilities

Disability Etiquette
DHS Headquarters’ Disability Etiquette guide (PDF – 8 pp.) provides useful communication tips and techniques. The information is useful for all populations and includes do’s and don’ts, conversation etiquette, and tips on sign language interpreters and service animals.

Tool Kit on Interviewing
The Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy offers helpful information on interviews and the hiring process (www.dol.gov/odep/categories/employer/recruit_and_hire/interviews.htm), including tips on communicating with and about people with disabilities (www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/fact/comucate.htm).

Guidance from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Asking Disability-Related Questions
Preemployment – Under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), an employer may ask disability-related questions and require medical examinations of an applicant only after the applicant has been given a conditional job offer. Enforcement Guidance (www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/preemp.html) from the EEOC explains the Commission’s position under the ADA on pre-employment disability-related questions and medical examinations.

Employment – Enforcement Guidance on Disability Related Examinations of Employees Under the ADA (www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/guidance-inquiries.html) focuses on the ADA’s limitations on disability-related inquiries and medical examinations during employment.

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Accommodation Resources

Reasonable Accommodation at DHS
The DHS Procedures to Facilitate the Provision of Reasonable Accommodation (PDF – 36 pp.) includes forms as well as the description of the Department’s policy and procedures.

Job Accommodation Network
For a federal manager, the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) (askjan.org/index.html) is the best place to start research on accommodation options.

JAN is a free consulting service of the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. It offers a toll-free information and referral service on job accommodations for people with disabilities; on the employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act; and on resources for technical assistance, funding, education, and services related to the employment of people with disabilities. In addition, JAN analyzes trends and statistical data related to the technical assistance it provides.

Contact: JAN 1-800-526-7234 or 1-800-ADA-WORK
(1-800-232-9675)

Disability resources from JAN for federal employers (askjan.org/empl/index.htm#fed) include:

• Practical guidance to reasonable accommodation (askjan.org/Erguide/index.htm) under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Accommodation and Compliance Series pamphlets.
• JAN’s Employees with Learning Disabilities (askjan.org/media/LD.html) article is a useful guide to learning about disabilities and the best way to accommodate employees. Includes a variety of methods for accommodating reading, writing, speech, mathematics, memory, and social skill disabilities.
• JAN’s Employees with Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (askjan.org/media/adhd.html) article explains the different ways that ADHD can manifest itself in an individual (hyperactive-impulsive, predominantly inattentive and combined) as well as how to best accommodate people with this disorder.
• Webcasts (http://askjan.org/Webcast/indexfed.htm) on topics of interest to federal employers.

Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program
The Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP) (cap.tricare.mil) provides assistive technology accommodations and services to persons with disabilities at the Department of Defense and over 38 federal agencies at no cost. CAP supports accessibility efforts, including the successful implementation of Section 508’s electronic and information technology accessibility requirements.

DHS has entered into an interagency agreement with CAP. Consult the DHS/CAP questions and answers guide to learn more about the agreement and how to request help for staff.

Telework
Jump to the Retention Resources section for information on telework at DHS.

Regional Disability and Business ADA Technical Assistance Centers
These regional and state centers provide training, information, and technical assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to businesses, consumers, schools, and government agencies.

Other Reasonable Accommodation Resources

• Accommodation resources from Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/misc/advance.htm)
• Accommodations resources from EARNworks (www.earnworks.com/employers/tools/index.asp#accommodate)

Executive Order 13164 and EEOC Regulations
Executive Order 13164 requires federal agencies to establish procedures regarding reasonable accommodation. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) provides a concise and clear Q&A on the requirements for reasonable accommodation (www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/qanda-accommodation_procedures.html) in the federal workplace.

EEOC policy guidance (http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/accommodation_procedures.html) explains the requirements of Executive Order 13164 more in depth. The transmittal also describes some background information on the obligation to provide reasonable accommodation and the standards of the Rehabilitation Act.

EEOC policies should be read in conjunction with the relevant EEOC regulations in 29 C.F.R. (www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/29cfrv4_03.html#1600). Consider all relevant laws, regulations, and guidance (www.eeoc.gov/laws/index.cfm).

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Hiring Resources

From the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

For an for an overview of the Schedule A special hiring authority for persons with disabilities, consult our Schedule A Brochure.

For unique considerations in the law enforcement context, consult our Hiring, Fitness for Duty, and Reasonable Accommodation Guide.

Schedule A Hiring Authority
Using Schedule A, managers and supervisors can hire employees with disabilities non-competitively. The Office of Personnel Management (OMB) provides a brief overview of the requirements and explains how to hire people with disabilities (www.opm.gov/disability/mngr_3-13.asp).

Further guidance is available from OPM on hiring authorities available for people with disabilities (http://www.opm.gov/dISABILITY/hrpro_3-02.asp), as well as common questions and answers (www.opm.gov/disability/appointment_disabilities.asp).

Hiring Veterans with Disabilities
For specific resources on hiring veterans with disabilities, please consult the Veterans Resources.

Ticket to Work Program Resources
The Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work (www.ssa.gov/work) program has material such as hiring checklists, fact sheets and brochures, myths and facts about hiring persons with disabilities, and other resources for federal employers hiring persons with disabilities.

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Retention Resources

Telework
Telework.gov (www.telework.gov) is an interagency website operated by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the General Services Administration (GSA). It offers background information and agency guidance for federal employees, managers, and supervisors. The frequently asked questions (www.telework.gov/FAQ/index.aspx) are particularly useful.

• DHS Telework Directive 123-05 (PDF – 8 pp.) issued 5/31/2007
• Telework 101 for Managers (www.telework.gov/Tools_and_Resources/Training/Managers/index.aspx) is an online course to help managers understand telework, attract and retain the best qualified employees, provide them with uninterrupted blocks of time to work on key projects, and give their organization a way of functioning more effectively during crisis situations and other business interruptions.

Travel
Staff with disabilities may face special challenges when travelling. Managers can help staff to make business travel easier by offering information to assist with planning.

• Tips for air travel (www.miusa.org/ncde/tipsheets/airlinetips) from Mobility International USA.
• Guidance from the Transportation Security Administration for Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions (www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/index.shtm).

Employment and Disability Institute (EDI)
Cornell University’s Employment and Disability Institute (www.ilr.cornell.edu/edi) offers publications, research, technical assistance, and training on issues that affect people with disabilities. Useful to federal managers looking for statistical information or online training on broad-based disability and workforce issues. EDI also offers technical assistance in the following disability-related areas:

1. information on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Accessible Information Technology (AIT);
2. information on how public benefits affect return-to-work efforts of people with disabilities; and
3. interpretation of federal and state disability statistics relating to prevalence and employment.

International Development Opportunities for Staff with Disabilities
The National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (www.miusa.org/ncde) is a project sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. It offers a comprehensive one-stop resource for people with disabilities interested in study, work, intern, volunteer, research, or teach abroad programs.

Addressing the Issue of Targeted Disabilities
Leadership for the Employment of Americans with Disabilities (LEAD) is the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s national outreach initiative to address the declining number of employees with targeted disabilities in the federal workforce. Managers may find LEAD resources (www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/initiatives/lead/resources.cfm) useful to address internal issues within their own offices in retaining staff with disabilities.

National Council on Disabilities
The National Council on Disabilities (NCD) is an independent federal agency making recommendations to the President and Congress to enhance the quality of life for all Americans with disabilities and their families. Managers may be interested in their publications on a wide range of disability related subjects (www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/index_subject.htm).

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Emergency Preparedness Resources

United States Access Board
The Access Board is an independent federal agency committed to accessible design. It has useful resources on emergency evacuation and disaster preparedness (www.access-board.gov/evac.htm).

A sample Emergency Evacuation Plan (www.access-board.gov/evacplan.htm) is also available from the Access Board. The plan is specific to the Board’s worksite, but it is a useful model for other federal agencies.

Effective Emergency Preparedness Planning
Emergency planning is just as critical for the workplace as it is for the home. In recent years, the nation, particularly the federal government, has re-evaluated its approach to emergency preparedness and response. The Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy has a fact sheet and resources on effective emergency planning (www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/fact/effective.htm) that addresses the needs of people with disabilities.

Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities
The Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities (ICC) (www.disabilitypreparedness.gov) was established by Executive Order 13347 (http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/ep/preparing/appendixc.htm) to ensure that the federal government appropriately supports safety and security for individuals with disabilities in disaster situations. The purpose of the Council is to:

• Consider, in their emergency preparedness planning, the unique needs of agency employees with disabilities and individuals with disabilities whom the agency serves;
• Encourage, including through the provision of technical assistance, consideration of the unique needs of employees and individuals with disabilities served by state, local, and tribal governments, and private organizations and individuals in emergency preparedness planning; and
• Facilitate cooperation among federal, state, local, and tribal governments and private organizations and individuals in the implementation of emergency preparedness plans as they relate to individuals with disabilities.

Read ICC reports (www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/gc_1266873528670.shtm#3) for more information on federal agency activity in this area.

Reference Guide for Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities in the Provision of Disaster Mass Care, Housing, and Human Services
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Reference Guide (www.fema.gov/oer/reference/index.shtm) summarizes equal access requirements for people with disabilities within disaster mass care, housing, and human services functions. The guide explains how applicable Federal laws relate to government entities and non-government, private sector, and religious organizations.

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Disability Statistics

Searchable Disability Statistics
Cornell University’s Employment and Disability Institute compiles and analyzes comprehensive, up-to-date U.S. disability statistics (http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/ped/disabilitystatistics) in the form of graphs and charts, tables, and written descriptions. You can download the annual report or create an account and ask researchers specific technical assistance questions.

U.S. Census Disability Data
The Census website (www.census.gov/hhes/www/disability/disability.html) includes data tables, reports, briefs, and research papers. You can subscribe to a free disability data mailing list.

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