This section contains information and resources to assist selective placement program coordinators and other agency officials as they recruit people with disabilities for employment in the Civil Service.

Recruiting Tips

Strategies and resources for recruiting, hiring, and retaining people with disabilities/targeted disabilities.

Vacancy Announcement Tips

Advice for creating and distributing effective vacancy announcements.

Student Programs

Effective outreach to students with disabilities is a great way to tap into the enormous potential offered by this segment of society. Here are some strategies to keep in mind that will assist you in tapping into that resource.

Strategies and Resources for Recruiting, Hiring, and Retaining People with Disabilities/Targeted Disabilities

There are a number of resources currently in existence that can help agencies make progress towards increasing employment of people with disabilities. Agencies should make full use of these resources to tap into the great potential of people with disabilities.

OPM CHCO Shared List of People with Disabilities

Enhance recruitment efforts by using the Shared List of People with Disabilities which is a free service available to all Federal agencies in order recruit people with disabilities from a wide variety of professional fields. The Shared List of People with Disabilities offers the following features:

• Easy faceted search capability with the option to filter by categories such as position, degree and clearance type.
• Ability to view resumes online

To learn more about the list and browse candidates, create a MAX ID and password and then click here. In addition, agencies may contact OPM's Office of Diversity and Inclusion at DisabilityEmployment@opm.gov.

State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies (SVRAs) and State Disability Service Agencies

Partner with State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies and State Disability Service agencies to recruit potential applicants with disabilities. State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies provide counseling, evaluation, training and other services to individuals with disabilities. These agencies can assist with information regarding accommodations, effective retention strategies, legal compliance, and training for the agency's organizations. SVRAs' are one of several sources that candidates may use to obtain proof of disability required under the Schedule A appointing authority for people with disabilities. For more information, go to Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. In addition, State Disability Service Agencies, such as State mental health agencies, frequently have employment training programs and can be a good recruitment resource.

Ticket-To-Work Employment Networks and Employment One-Stop Career Centers

The Ticket-to-Work Program provides people receiving Social Security benefits (beneficiaries) choices for receiving employment services. Under this program, the Social Security Administration (SSA) issues tickets to eligible beneficiaries who may assign those tickets to an Employment Network (EN) of their choice to obtain employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, or other support services necessary to achieve a vocational (work) goal. One-Stop Career Centers (One-Stops) were established under the federal Workforce Investment Act to provide a full range of job seeker assistance under one roof. One-Stops are located at a variety of locations in each state, with more than 3,200 centers across the country. The One-Stop system is required to be "universally accessible;" any member of the general public (including those with disabilities) can access the system and use the basic, or "core," One-Stop services.

Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)

Consult with the Rehabilitation Services Administration, a component of the Department of Education that provides Federal funds in support of the Projects with Industry (PWI) program, the Centers for Independent Living (CIL) program, and the Migrant Seasonal Farm Workers (MSFW) program. Individuals receiving services from these programs are not always clients of state Vocational Rehabilitation Services programs. Often times, through the provision of independent living services, individuals with severe disabilities can reach a level of employment. Agencies should explore opportunities for outreach and collaboration with RSA-supported organizations, including rehabilitation programs for Native Americans, to develop additional recruiting resources to improve employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. For this collaboration to be successful, agencies should ensure that RSA state agencies understand the types of jobs for which it is recruiting and that they receive timely information on job openings.

Social Networking

Use the Internet and social media such as Face Book and Twitter to help recruit individuals with disabilities and raise awareness of the agency as an employer.

Electronic Mailing Lists

Develop an electronic mailing list of disability advocacy groups in the local geographic area. Remember to send regular email notices to these organizations with all job openings and include a description of the Schedule A authority for people with disabilities and basic instructions on how to apply for a Federal job using this Schedule A authority. The notice is a great opportunity to reinforce the agency's commitment to become a model employer of people with disabilities. The human resources offices in field facilities should establish similar links with local disability advocacy groups. Rely on the support of your Selective Placement Coordinator, Disability Program Manager, and other HR and EEO staff to help with developing the list.

Collaborative Relationships with Community and Governmental Groups

Seek collaborative recruiting relationships with community and governmental groups to improve outreach and access to employment opportunities for minority individuals with disabilities.

Equal Opportunity Publications, Inc.

Review the Equal Opportunity Publications, Inc.'s career guidance and recruitment magazine for people with disabilities to gain diversity recruitment tips.

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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Advice for creating and distributing effective vacancy announcements:

• Use plain language when writing vacancy announcements.
• Every vacancy announcement must communicate the agency's intent to make reasonable accommodations for qualified job applicants and employees with disabilities.
• All vacancy announcements should state that the agency is an equal opportunity employer and encourages candidates with disabilities to apply.
• Ensure all vacancy announcements explain the process if the applicant wishes to apply as a Schedule A applicant.
• Use targeted outreach and advertising through various media, as appropriate to share vacancy announcements.
• Distribute vacancy announcements and job postings to local groups that provide support to people with disabilities.
• Prior to posting a vacancy, conduct extensive job analysis—including reviewing the agency's eligibility criteria and qualification standards for positions—to identify and revise criteria and standards that are unnecessarily restrictive and potentially exclude people with disabilities such as blanket rules requiring certain levels of unaided hearing or unaided vision.

Agencies should look to students as a viable source of qualified people with disabilities. Specifically, when recruiting for internship programs, ensure that you include students with disabilities. Effective outreach to students with disabilities is a great way to tap into the enormous potential offered by this segment of society. Here are some strategies to keep in mind that will assist you in tapping into that resource

Workforce Recruitment Program

The Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities (WRP) is a source of candidates for Federal employment jointly managed by the Office of Disability Employment Policy and the Department of Defense. The program helps connect Federal agencies nationwide with highly motivated post-secondary students and recent graduates with disabilities. The WRP seeks: (1) to provide college students with disabilities the opportunity to obtain summer employment that may lead to permanent employment in the Federal or private sector; and (2) to break down attitudinal barriers held by employers and co-workers by demonstrating that people with disabilities can work successfully in a variety of jobs. Agencies can employ summer interns through the WRP and also use WRP as a source of candidates for both temporary and permanent positions. Agencies can also send job announcements via mass e-mails to students with disabilities who are listed in the WRP database.

Campus Visits and Partnerships

Improve outreach efforts through campus visits and partnerships both with the career placement offices and the campus organizations and other networks providing services to students with disabilities. Encourage staff members (particularly those with disabilities) to participate in campus visits to recruit students with disabilities through the WRP.

Professional Organizations and Publications

Target professional organizations and publications directed to student with disabilities. Such organizations can be found by contacting disability student service offices at colleges and universities, and Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies.

Pathways Programs

Use the Pathways Programs, including the Internship Program, Recent Graduates Program and Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program, to offer employment opportunities to students and recent graduates with disabilities, as well as to complement disability recruitment efforts. 

Recruiting Initiatives and Events

Identify and participate in special college and university recruiting initiatives and other events. These are opportunities to recruit qualified candidates with disabilities who can be hired immediately using the Schedule A appointing authority.