Simone Lawson
The US federal government is actively recruiting and hiring people with disabilities and offers competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and opportunities for career advancement. People with disabilities can be appointed to federal jobs non-competitively through a process called Schedule A, which gives federal agencies an optional, quicker way to hire individuals with disabilities. Schedule A was created to provide employment pathways specifically for people with disabilities, including those with severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, or intellectual disabilities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hiring process | Non-competitive (Schedule A) or competitive |
| Eligibility | Intellectual disability, severe physical disability, psychiatric disability, or a disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) definition |
| Documentation | Disability letter from a doctor or licensed medical professional |
| Application | Online |
| Reasonable accommodation | Case-by-case basis |
| Employment pathways | AbilityOne.gov, Veteran Readiness and Employment (VRE) program |
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What You'll Learn
Schedule A hiring
To be eligible for Schedule A hiring, individuals must have an intellectual disability, a severe physical disability, or a psychiatric disability. They must also meet the qualifications of the job they are applying for, with or without reasonable accommodation. Applicants can request reasonable accommodations at any time during the hiring process or during their employment. These requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.
To apply for Schedule A hiring, individuals should first identify an open position that they are interested in. They can then mention their eligibility for Schedule A on their resume and in their cover letter. Applicants can also select the "Individuals with disabilities" filter when searching for jobs on USAJOBS. This will display all the jobs open to individuals with disabilities.
Once an applicant has found a suitable position, they can apply through the regular vacancy announcement on USAJOBS or the agency's website. They should then follow up with the Selective Placement Program Coordinator (SPPC) or Disability Program Manager (DPM) at the agency to ensure that their application is considered through Schedule A. It is important to note that not all agencies have an SPPC or DPM, so applicants may need to speak with the Human Resources (HR) Specialist instead.
While Schedule A provides an alternative pathway for individuals with disabilities to obtain federal jobs, it does not guarantee selection for employment. Applicants must still submit all the required documentation and meet the qualification requirements for the position they are applying for.
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Competitive and non-competitive processes
The Federal Government actively recruits and hires persons with disabilities. It offers competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and opportunities for career advancement.
There are two types of hiring processes for individuals with disabilities: competitive and non-competitive.
Competitive Processes
The competitive hiring process involves applicants competing with each other through a structured process. Individuals with disabilities can apply and compete for any job for which they are eligible and meet the qualifications.
Non-Competitive Processes
The non-competitive hiring process allows agencies to use a special hiring authority, known as Schedule A, to hire individuals with disabilities without requiring them to compete for the job. Schedule A provides an optional and potentially quicker way for agencies to hire individuals with intellectual, severe physical, or psychiatric disabilities.
To be selected through Schedule A, individuals must still demonstrate that they meet the qualifications of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations. It is important to note that not all agencies have a Disability Program Manager (DPM) or Special Placement Program Coordinator (SPPC), so applicants may need to contact the Human Resources (HR) Specialist for guidance on applying through Schedule A.
Individuals with disabilities can express their interest in being considered non-competitively under Schedule A on their resumes and cover letters. They may also need to provide documentation of their disability, such as a letter from a licensed medical professional.
Additional Resources
Several resources are available to assist individuals with disabilities in finding employment within the Federal Government. These include AbilityOne.gov, which helps individuals who are blind or have significant disabilities, and the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VRE) program, which supports veterans with service-related disabilities.
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Reasonable accommodations
The US federal government is actively recruiting and hiring persons with disabilities and offers a variety of exciting jobs, competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and opportunities for career advancement. There are two types of hiring processes: non-competitive and competitive.
In the non-competitive hiring process, agencies use a special authority (Schedule A) to hire persons with disabilities without requiring them to compete for the job. Schedule A was created to provide employment pathways specifically for people with disabilities, including intellectual disability, severe physical disability, or psychiatric disability. Although disclosing a disability is not required to apply for a federal job, it is necessary for Schedule A consideration or appointment.
In the competitive hiring process, applicants compete with each other through a structured process. Federal agencies are required by law to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified employees with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations can apply to the duties of the job and/or where and how job tasks are performed. The accommodation should make it easier for the employee to successfully perform the duties of the position. Examples of reasonable accommodations include providing interpreters, readers, or other personal assistance; modifying job duties; restructuring work sites; and providing flexible work schedules or work sites.
Requests for reasonable accommodations can be made at any time during the hiring process or while on the job and are considered on a case-by-case basis. There is no special language needed to make a request, and it can be done verbally or in writing. A disability letter from a doctor or licensed medical professional that proves eligibility for Schedule A appointment can be uploaded and saved to a USAJOBS account and submitted with the job application.
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Selective Placement Program Coordinators
SPPCs assist in determining the essential duties of a position, identifying architectural barriers, and suggesting modifications to enable people with disabilities to perform their jobs. They help individuals with disabilities understand current job opportunities, types of jobs within the agency, and how these positions are filled. SPPCs also work with public and private organisations involved in placing applicants with disabilities, providing information about their agency's program and job opportunities.
Additionally, SPPCs monitor and evaluate selective placement program efforts and activities for people with disabilities, making changes as needed to improve effectiveness. They are primarily located at agency headquarters and can provide information on coordinators in field offices. Each agency is responsible for overseeing the activities of its designated SPPCs and notifying the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) when a new coordinator is selected.
SPPCs play a crucial role in facilitating the employment of individuals with disabilities, ensuring equal opportunities and access to competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and career advancement prospects within the federal government.
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Eligibility and documentation
People with disabilities can apply for jobs with the US federal government through USAJobs. There are two types of hiring processes: non-competitive and competitive. In the non-competitive hiring process, agencies can use the Schedule A Hiring Authority to hire individuals with disabilities without requiring them to compete for the job. This is a special hiring authority that gives federal agencies an optional, and potentially quicker, way to hire people with disabilities.
To be eligible for Schedule A, you must have an intellectual disability, a severe physical disability, or a psychiatric disability. You must also meet the qualifications of the job (with or without reasonable accommodation). You will need to provide a disability letter from your doctor or a licensed medical professional that proves your eligibility for a Schedule A appointment. You can upload and submit these forms with your job application.
If you are a veteran with a disability, you may obtain Schedule A Certification from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VR&E) Program. Any veteran with a disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) definition of “disability,” whether service-connected or not, may qualify.
You can also apply for jobs through the traditional or competitive process, in which applicants compete with each other through a structured process. You can request reasonable accommodations at any time during the hiring process or while on the job. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Most federal agencies have a Selective Placement Program Coordinator (SPPC), a Special Emphasis Program Manager (SEPM) for Employment of Adults with Disabilities, or an equivalent role, who helps to recruit, hire, and accommodate people with disabilities. You can contact the SPPC or DPM at the agency where you wish to work and ask for guidance on the best way to apply for the identified vacancy using the Schedule A hiring process.
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Frequently asked questions
Schedule A is a special hiring authority that allows federal agencies to hire individuals with disabilities without requiring them to compete for the job.
Individuals with intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities are eligible for Schedule A.
You can apply for Schedule A by mentioning your eligibility on your resume and in your cover letter. You can also select the "Individuals with disabilities" filter when searching for jobs.
You will need to provide a disability letter from your doctor or a licensed medical professional proving your eligibility for Schedule A.
Yes, you can request reasonable accommodations at any time during the hiring process or while on the job. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.
