The Department of Commerce's Disability Program Office is committed to increasing the employment of disabled individuals throughout the Department. In addition, the Department continues to forge partnerships with other Federal Government agencies, colleges, universities, vocational rehabilitation agencies, and disability advocacy groups.

Vision

We are committed to attract, hire, and retain individuals with disabilities.

Mission

Our mission is to promote meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities and encourage their integration into the DOC workforce nationwide through effective training, career development, and promotional opportunities.

About Us

On July 26, 2011, President Barack Obama signed Executive Order 13548, Increasing Federal Employment of Individuals with Disabilities. 

Background

People with disabilities may be considered for employment through the competitive hiring process or, in some circumstances, under the Schedule A hiring authority for persons with disabilities. Individuals who may fall under this special hiring authority include persons with intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities. In these cases, an agency may make a permanent, temporary, or time-limited appointment. Disabled veterans may also be considered under special hiring programs for disabled veterans with disability ratings from the Department of Veterans Affairs of 30 percent or more.

Disability Hiring at Commerce

• Department of Commerce Veteran Employment Council and Selective Placement Coordinators
• Department of Commerce Disability Hiring and Retaining People with Disabilities Operational Plan FY20

REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHEDULE A HIRING AUTHORITY

To qualify for employment under Schedule A, a person must have the following:

Proof of Disability: An individual wishing to be hired under the Schedule A (5 C.F.R.213.3102(u)) hiring authority must provide proof that he or she is an individual with an intellectual disability, severe physical disability, or psychiatric disability. This proof must be provided to the hiring agency before an individual can be hired.

Certification of Job Readiness: An individual hired under this authority must be ready to perform the job for which they are being considered. This certification is a statement that the individual is likely to succeed in the performance of the duties of the position for which he or she is applying. As proof of disability and certification of job readiness, appropriate documentation can be: records, statements, or other appropriate information issued by a licensed medical professional, a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist, or any Federal agency, State agency, or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits.

Temporary appointments may be considered for individuals who have proof of disability but lack certification of job readiness. Individuals may work under a temporary appointment until the agency determines that the individuals can perform the duties of the position, or the individuals gain certification. Time-limited appointments may be considered when the duties of the position do not require it to be filled on a permanent basis. 

The U.S. Department of Commerce provides reasonable accommodations so that people with disabilities have the opportunity to perform the duties of their positions.

Disability Hiring Resources 

Appointment Authorities

The Federal Government has a special Schedule A (5 C.F.R. 213.3102(u)) appointing authority for persons with intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities. 

Disabled veterans may also be considered under a special hiring authority for 30 percent or more disabled veterans.

Assistive Technology Resources

• Section508.gov
• Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP)
• Assistive Technology for Persons with Disabilities
• Commerce Accessibility Statement 

RECRUITMENT/ HIRING RESOURCES

EARN – The Employer Assistance & Recruiting Network (EARN) is a free service that connects employers looking for quality employees with skilled job candidates. EARN provides recruiting services, as well as employer success stories. Moreover, if you need to make the business case for hiring people with disabilities, EARN can provide you with the information you need! Further information can be found on the EARN website.

WRP – The Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) is a recruitment and referral program that connects federal sector employers nationwide with highly motivated postsecondary students and recent graduates with disabilities who are eager to demonstrate their abilities in the workplace through summer or permanent jobs. Students represent all majors and range from college freshmen to graduate students and law students. A searchable database is available through the WRP website. WRP is ready to help you fill your summer or permanent hiring needs! Further information can be found on the WRP website.

Veterans with Disabilities – There are numerous organizations and agencies that exist to assist veterans with disabilities in finding and maintaining employment. 

The following is a sample of useful resources to keep handy:

• Hire Heroes
• Wounded Warriors Project
• Department of Labor’s (DOL) Veterans Employment & Training Service 

Advocacy Groups – There are several different advocacy groups that also serve as excellent resources for recruiting and hiring individuals with disabilities. The following is a sampling of those resources:

• American Association of People with Disabilities
• National Council on Independent Living  
• Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation  
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Government  
• American Council of the Blind  

Federal Resources – There are numerous federal programs designed to meet the needs of people with disabilities in finding employment. The following is a non-exhaustive list of programs/resources:

• The Office of Personnel Management’s “Disability Site”
• DOL’s Office of Disability Employment Policy
• Also check out the federal government’s one-stop website for people with disabilities, their families, employers, veterans and service members, workforce professionals, and many others. 

TRAINING

Learn more about Schedule A to quickly hire applicants with disabilities. These short training videos cover a range of subjects and will assist hiring managers, like you, in achieving your mission and important recruitment, hiring, and diversity goals.

For the Hiring Manager:

Excepted Service employment provides alternatives when traditional competitive hiring procedures are impractical. Excepted service hiring authorities can help agencies resolve problems that arise from unusual hiring situations that do not lend themselves to traditional competitive procedures. Certain authorities provide for appointment to the excepted service, rather than to the competitive civil service, to allow agencies to meet their critical needs, including the hiring of prospective employees and individuals with special needs. 

For more information, please see OPM's Helpful Hiring Resources & Authorities page.

COMPUTER ACCOMMODATIONS PROGRAM - CAP

CAP has created a series of online training modules. These modules will help you understand how to hire employees with disabilities and wounded, ill, and injured Service members and how to provide reasonable accommodations after they are hired.

JAN Announces a New Series of Just-in-Time Training Modules

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) offers a series of fully accessible, just-in-time training modules designed to support employers, managers, and disability specialists. One featured module, “JAN’s Interactive Process,” provides practical guidance on navigating workplace accommodations. With the passage of the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, the focus has shifted from defining disability to ensuring employees receive effective accommodations. A key element in this process is maintaining an interactive accommodation process between the employer and employee.

This 23-minute training module, accompanied by a transcript and handout, presents a step-by-step framework employers can adapt to their own workplaces. The resource is especially valuable for training new accommodation specialists, disability managers, and others responsible for implementing accommodations. Trainees can complete the module independently on their computer or incorporate it into a larger training program.

The module and supporting documents are available in JAN’s Multimedia Training Library.