Following is the summary of a recent OPM report on employment of those with disabilities in the federal government.
Message from the Acting Director
On July 26, 2010, President Obama issued Executive Order (E.O.) 13548 on Increasing Federal Employment of Individuals with Disabilities, to mark the historic 20th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). E.O. 13548 provides that as the nation’s largest employer, the Federal government must become a model for the employment of individuals with disabilities. The President directed Executive departments and agencies to improve their efforts to employ Federal workers with disabilities and targeted disabilities through increased recruitment, hiring, and retention of these individuals. E.O. 13548 is not an isolated effort, but works in coordination with E.O. 13518 on Employment of Veterans in the Federal Government, issued on November 9, 2009; the Presidential Memorandum on The Presidential POWER Initiative: Protecting Our Workers and Ensuring Reemployment, issued on July 19, 2010; and E.O. 13583 on Establishing a Coordinated Government-wide Initiative to Promote Diversity and Inclusion in the Federal Workforce, issued on August 18, 2011.
E.O. 13548 committed the Executive Branch to enhancing opportunities for individuals with disabilities in the Federal workforce and included a goal to hire 100,000 people with disabilities into Federal service over five years. The Federal government has made great progress towards accomplishing these goals. By the end of fiscal year (FY) 2014, total non-seasonal full-time permanent Federal employment for people with disabilities had increased from 234,395 in FY 2013 to 247,608, representing an increase from 12.80 percent to 13.56 percent. New hires with disabilities totaled 20,615, representing an increase from 18.18 percent in FY 2013 to 19.74 percent in FY 2014.
This Administration has consistently demonstrated a commitment to providing equal employment opportunities for Americans with disabilities. And it shows. Historical data shows that currently, the Federal government hired more people with disabilities, both by percentage and real number, than at any time in the past 34 years. Historical data also shows that people with targeted disabilities are being hired at a higher percentage now than at any time in the past 34 years. This success has led to more people with disabilities on board in Federal service, both in real terms and by percentage than at any time in the past 34 years.
Going forward, we remain committed to ensuring that the Federal government remains a model employer of people with disabilities. I look forward to working to sustain that achievement and sharing our results.
Introduction
The primary elements used to identify people with disabilities for Federal employment purposes are Standard Form (SF) 256-Self-Identification of Disability; use of the Schedule A Hiring Authority for People with Intellectual Disabilities, Severe Physical Disabilities, or Psychiatric Disabilities (5 CFR 213.3102(u)); and use of the statutory hiring authority for Veterans who are 30 percent or more disabled (5 U.S.C. 3112; 5 C.F.R. §§ 316.302, 316.402, and 315.707).
SF 256, created for use by the Federal workforce, defines an individual with a disability as “a person who: (1) has a physical impairment or mental impairment (psychiatric disability) that substantially limits one or more of such person’s major life activities; (2) has a record of such impairment; or (3) is regarded as having such an impairment.” This definition is provided by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C 701 et. seq.).
Targeted disabilities are set forth in SF 256 to include deafness, blindness, missing extremities, partial paralysis, complete paralysis, epilepsy, intellectual disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, and dwarfism.
The Schedule A Hiring Authority for People with Intellectual Disabilities, Severe Physical Disabilities, or Psychiatric Disabilities provides for the excepted service appointment of people with intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities who have documented proof of their disability from a licensed medical professional (e.g., a physician or other medical professional certified by a state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory to practice medicine); a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist (i.e., state or private); or any Federal agency, state agency, or agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits.
On Board
• In FY 2014, total non-seasonal, full-time permanent employees with disabilities, including 30 percent or more disabled Veterans, increased from 234,395 in FY 2013 to 247,608, representing an increase from 12.80 percent to 13.56 percent. As of FY 2014, there are more people with disabilities in Federal service both in real terms and by percentage than at any time in the past 34 years.
• In FY 2014, total non-seasonal, full-time permanent employees with targeted disabilities, increased slightly from 18,665 in FY 2013 to 19,536, representing an increase from 1.02 percent to 1.07 percent. As of FY 2014, there are more people with targeted disabilities in Federal service now than at any time in the past 18 years.
• In FY 2014, total non-seasonal, full-time permanent GS-14s and 15s with disabilities, including 30 percent or more disabled Veterans, increased from 15,054 in FY 2013 to 15,930, representing an increase from 9.20 percent to 9.68 percent.
New Hires
• In FY 2014, non-seasonal, full-time permanent new hires with disabilities, including 30 percent or more disabled Veterans, totaled 20,615, representing an increase from 18.18 percent in FY 2013 to 19.74 percent. Historical data shows that in FY 2014, the Federal Government hired more people with disabilities, both by percentage and real number, than at any time in the past 34 years.
• In FY 2014, non-seasonal, full-time permanent new hires with targeted disabilities totaled 1,424, representing an increase from 1.31 percent in FY 2013 to 1.36 percent in FY 2014. In FY 2014, people with targeted disabilities were hired at a higher percentage than at any time in the past 34 years.
• In FY 2014, non-seasonal, full-time permanent new hires pursuant to the Schedule A Hiring Authority for People with Certain Disabilities totaled 1,830, representing an increase from 1.56 percent in FY 2013 to 1.75 percent in FY 2014.
• In FY 2014, non-seasonal, full-time permanent GS-14 and 15 new hires with disabilities, including 30 percent or more disabled Veterans, totaled 577, representing an increase from 14.89 percent of GS-14 and 15 new hires in FY 2013 to 16.41 percent in FY 2014.
• In FY 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, the years Federal agencies have been implementing E.O. 13548, the Federal Government hired:
o 71,967 non-seasonal, full-time permanent employees with disabilities;
o 80,469, including permanent seasonal, permanent intermittent, part-time permanent and full-time permanent employees with disabilities; and
o 115,221, including all permanent and temporary employees with disabilities.