How Can People with Disabilities Land Federal Jobs?

Are you differently-abled and wish to work for the federal government? Wondering whether it’s possible or not? You might not be aware that there are certain hiring programs designed especially for people with special needs. Since the addition of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) to the law, the government has been establishing the Schedule A Hiring Program for the differently-abled population.

What Percentage of People with Disabilities Work in the Federal Government?

Almost 21 years ago, President Clinton had signed the ADA, according to which the federal government was instructed to hire 100,000 disabled workers in the next five years. At that time, there were 122,000 disabled federal workers in the workforce.

By 2015, the total number of disabled workers in the Executive Branch of the Federal government had reached 264,844. This amounts to 14.41% of the total federal workers.

During Trump’s presidency, all feds were suffering, and people with disabilities were no different. However, despite many challenges, there were 17.9% of people with disabilities in the federal workforce last year.

What Are the Special Hiring Programs?

Although the federal agencies are allowed to hire people with special needs in many different ways, two hiring programs are specially dedicated for them. While anyone with any sort of physical and mental disability can be a part of Schedule Ahiring, there is a separate program for veterans with 30% or more disability.

Qualifying to be a Part of Schedule A Hiring

There are well-defined criteria to determine whether somebody qualifies for Schedule A hiring or not. The criterion is based on the list on OPM Standard Form (SF) 256 for Self-Identification for Disability. Besides that, people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), attention deficit disorder (ADD), and some other disabilities are also entitled to be a part of Schedule A hiring. Although the participants are never asked to disclose their disability, doing so can aid the process and increase their chances of getting special accommodations.

How to Use Schedule A Hiring for a Federal Job

Before you apply for a federal job using Schedule A hiring, you should be aware that you can apply to fed positions in two ways simultaneously. You can apply for any job announcements that you find on USAJOBS and at the same time get in touch with the Selective Placement Program Coordinator (SPPC) or Schedule A Hiring HR specialist. They can help you in sending your resume and other details along with a Schedule A Letter for your application. You can easily find the Selective Placement Program Coordinator in the complete list of SPPCs in different states or agencies. While it’s sufficient to apply using either of the two ways, using both methods can increase the likelihood of your application getting accepted.

Resume for Federal Positions

It’s important to write the federal resume if you wish to target any specific federal position(s). Your resume reflects your interest and specialized experience in the relevant field.

Always pay particular attention to your resume and make sure that you are adding keywords relevant to the field. You can also refer to the OPM Classification standards to learn more about the official descriptions of all the job openings in the Federal government.

If your resume doesn’t match the qualifications, skills, or experience required for a particular federal job, then, unfortunately, not do much about it. Make sure you check out the Federal Resume Guidebook, 7th Ed, to find out the best resume style and tips.

Don’t Forget the Disability Qualification Letter.

Whether you’re a veteran or a civilian, you must include your disability qualification letter. Disabled veterans can use their VA letter as their “Schedule A” letter. However, non-veterans need to get a Schedule A letter from any reliable doctor, psychiatrist, or maybe a vocational rehabilitation center.

Don’t worry even if you wish not to disclose your disability because it’s never mentioned in the Schedule A letter. The letter only states that you have a disability that makes you eligible for Schedule A hiring process. Getting your letter signed by a reliable and acceptable healthcare professional is also important. You can also check out this sample here. Once your letter is ready, you can also upload it to the USAJOBS portal.

Writing to the SPPC

It’s important to keep in mind certain things when you are writing the SPCC. Make sure that you’ve selected the most relevant one from the SPPC list of contacts. You should also have a clear idea of which agencies you wish to work for.

If the agency that you’re applying to doesn’t have any designated SPPC, then you can also contact the HR department and inquire about the SPPC.You can also ask SPPC or HR representative about what grade level (or two) you are eligible for and what salary you can expect.

When writing to the SPPC, you should clearly mention which position you’ve applied for and on what date. And don’t forget to specifically mention that you want to be considered for the Schedule A hiring program. If you don’t receive any reply, make sure that you follow up on your email within the first five days.

Adding a Cover Letter

Regardless of wherever you’re applying, a cover letter is extremely important. It not only introduces you but also clearly mentions your qualifications, skills, target positions, and other details. For some positions, you might be required to pass a certain test or give an interview as well.

? At Civil Service Success, we can help you with the application process. We are experienced in preparing applicants to appear for the civil service exams and interviews. We can also help you in finding federal jobs in different sectors relevant to your areas of interest. All our courses are designed to train applicants for all sections of civil service exams. Get in touch with us to find out more.