Disability Employment

First, contact your human resources office and your organization's Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Manager (or equivalent). Your agency may already have established recruiting and referral relationships with organizations serving people with disabilities, such as:

• State vocational rehabilitation agencies,
• Centers for Independent Living (CILs),
• Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service website.
• Local Veterans Affairs (VA) offices,
• EARN, the Employer Assistance Referral Network,
• Educational institutions serving blind or deaf individuals, and
• National disability organizations.

Federal agencies may work directly with these organizations to refer candidates for employment opportunities using the excepted appointing authorities for hiring people with disabilities. Your agency's Plan for Employment of People with Disabilities may also include good sources of qualified candidates with disabilities for your vacancies. In addition, individuals with disabilities may always apply for vacancy announcements that are open to the general public.

The Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) for college students with disabilities is a great source of potential candidates when considering college students with disabilities for employment. Employers can access the WRP candidate database by contacting their agency's WRP representative (usually in the human resources office).