Disabilities Employment Program

Honoring National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) 2024

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)! In honor of NDEAM, the HCTM Disability Employment Program, is hosting weekly Disability Employment Power Hour Sessions, a series of informative webinars that empower and increase support for people with disabilities.

These webinars are organized in collaboration with Selective Placement Program Coordinators from USAID, the Office of Personnel Management, the Department of Labor, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the National Institutes of Health.

Click the links below to register for the Disability Employment Power Hour Session every Wednesday in October from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET!

Welcome to USAID’s Disability Employment Program, managed by The Office of Human Capital Talent Management’s Office of External Outreach and Strategic Recruitment HCTM/XOSR. USAID is committed to ensuring inclusivity and equal employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Below, you will find information about USAID’s mission, how jobseekers with disabilities can apply for federal jobs, and the eligibility requirements and documentation needed for Schedule A appointments.

On July 26, 2010, President Obama signed Executive Order 13548, which provides that the Federal Government, as the Nation’s largest employer, must become a model for employment of individuals with disabilities. The order directs Executive departments and agencies to improve their efforts to employ Federal workers with disabilities and targeted disabilities through increased recruitment, hiring, and retention. As a Federal employer, USAID has an obligation to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. Targeted disabilities may include conditions such as:

Deafness or severe hearing loss
Blindness or severe visual impairment
Severe mobility impairments
Intellectual disabilities
Psychiatric disabilities

These disabilities are recognized because individuals with them have historically been underrepresented in the federal workforce.

Mission

At USAID, our mission is to lead the United States' efforts to end extreme poverty and promote resilient, democratic societies by investing in sustainable development. We are dedicated to fostering a more inclusive society that values and supports the talents and abilities of all individuals, including those with disabilities.

How Jobseekers with Disabilities Apply for Federal Jobs

If you are a jobseeker with disabilities and interested in applying for Federal jobs, including with USAID, please follow these steps:

Create an account: Create a USAJOBS account to apply for federal positions. Doing so will allow you to save and track your job applications.
Research job opportunities: Visit the USAJOBS website (www.usajobs.gov) to explore available Federal job vacancies. Use the search filters to specify your preferences and narrow your search.
Customize your profile: Fill out your profile on USAJOBS, ensuring you provide accurate and up-to-date information about yourself, including .Review and select the hiring paths that apply to you to include individuals with disabilities.
Make your profile searchable: Recruiters can search your profile and resume to match your work preferences and background with the jobs they're looking to fill.
Apply for positions utilizing the Schedule A Hiring path : Utilize the "Advanced Search" feature on USAJOBS to identify positions eligible for Schedule A hiring authority. Schedule A is a special hiring authority that provides non-competitive appointment opportunities for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Schedule A Eligibility

To be eligible under Schedule A, you must meet the following criteria:

Confirmation of disability: Have a documented intellectual, psychiatric, or severe physical disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
Qualified to perform the job: Possess the necessary skills, education, and experience required for the job for which you are applying.
Meet job announcement requirements: Meet the minimum qualifications and any other particular requirements stated in the job announcement.

Schedule A Documentation

When applying for appointment to a Federal job under Schedule A hiring authority, you will need to provide the following documentation:

Proof of disability: Please provide a current medical certification signed by your doctor. Signature must be handwritten or in digitally verified by:
- your doctor
- licensed healthcare professional
- a licensed rehabilitation professional, or
- any Federal, state, District of Columbia, or US territory agency that issues or provides disability benefits.
The proof of disability documentation needs to specify that you are eligible to apply using Schedule A. It does NOT need to detail your specific disability, medical history, or need for accommodation. Sample Schedule A proof of disability letters are available for your reference.

Repository

To join USAID’s Talent Database, email disabilityprogram@usaid.gov with your up-to-date, tailored resume and your Schedule A documentation. After we have received and reviewed your required information, you will receive an email message confirming your acceptance into the Talent Repository.

The Schedule A hiring authority can be utilized for non-competitive appointments of individuals with disabilities, even when there is no active job announcement. There are two avenues for such appointments: the first involves applying for an open job and identifying as a person with a Schedule A certification. It's important to note that, regardless of the method chosen, you are still required to apply for any position you wish to be considered for and believe you meet the qualifications.

Once you've applied, please get in touch with the Selective Placement Program Coordinator and provide them with the necessary information for the vacancy, including the announcement number and position title. Upon receiving this information, the Selective Placement Program Coordinator will then forward your details to Human Resources Specialists to assess your qualifications. If you are found to be qualified, your resume will be forwarded to the hiring manager for consideration under the Schedule A hiring authority.

It's important to understand that this process does not guarantee your selection for the position; rather, it provides the hiring manager with an alternative method for making selections under the Schedule A hiring authority.

Please send any questions to the Selective Placement Program Coordinator, Milana Pilco, at disabilityprogram@usaid.gov.

Reasonable Accommodation

USAID provides reasonable accommodations to applicants for Federal jobs and federal employees with disabilities. A reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment to a job, the work environment, or the way things are customarily done that enables a qualified individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform job functions, and ensure equal benefits and privileges of employment.

A reasonable accommodation may be requested for any part of the application or hiring process. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. If you feel you are in need of an accommodation at any point of the employment process, please contact reasonableaccomodations@usaid.gov.

To learn more about Schedule A Tips for Applicants with Disabilities on applying for Federal jobs, please visit: