Facts About Federal Government Disability Hiring Practices

The Federal government's disability hiring process can seem like a lot of information to take in. We are here to help you understand this process and to answer what questions you may have about it.

There are two different Schedule A authorities:

1. 5 CFR 213.3102(u) - This authority helps individuals who have a severe physical, mental, or psychological disability obtain a position of employment.
2. 5 CFR 213.3102(11) - This authority appoints assistants for individuals with disabilities. These assistants can range from readers for those with vision problems, to signers for those with hearing problems. They are seen as a reasonable accommodation for disabled individuals.

If you have received SSI, qualify for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), or have received vocational rehabilitation, you may qualify to apply for a Federal appointment through Schedule A. By applying through Schedule A, you would go through a different kind of hiring process.

As long as you meet the requirements to apply for a Schedule A appointment, which we will discuss in a moment, and meet the minimum requirements for the position you're applying for, you would then no longer be competing for the position against individuals from the general public -- you would go into a separate hiring pool.

The requirements that you will need to meet to apply for a Schedule A appointment are as follows:

• You will need to provide documentation of your disability
• You will need to provide documentation that you are ready and able to be hired for that position

These two requirements are not as difficult to obtain as they may seem.

For the first one, you can simply have your doctor write a statement acknowledging your disability, and that you would be able to perform the basic functions of the position you're seeking. If you are participating in vocational rehabilitation, a statement from your vocational rehabilitation counselor/therapist can work also.

For the second one, you may ask an individual to assist you in writing your letter to the Schedule A hiring authorities. That person may insert a statement in your letter saying they believe you to be capable of working in the position you're applying for.

If you have any questions about Schedule A, please contact us and let us know. We will be happy to discuss this hiring process with you, as well as any other questions you may have for us.