Chapter 3: Employment

Section 4: Government Employment

Federal Jobs Network

Disabled Hiring Programs
Bookhaven Press LLC
249 Field Club Cir.
McKees Rocks, PA 15136

412-494-6926 Voice
412-494-5749 Fax

Bookhaven@aol.com
federaljobs.net/disabled.htm

This website section explains the various hiring options for people with disabilities. Individuals seeking appointments with the federal government must be proactive and begin networking with local agencies, contacting listed resources, and aggressively seeking out all available federal employment opportunities. Agencies have direct hire authority for Schedule A appointments presented in this section.

Oklahoma Employment Security Commission

Special Excepted Appointment (SEA) Project
P.O. Box 52003
Oklahoma City, OK 73152-2003

405-557-7100 Voice
405-557-7531 TDD
888-980-9675 To locate the nearest Workforce Office

www.oesc.state.ok.us

The Special Excepted Appointment procedure is one route individuals with severe disabilities can use to obtain federal employment. They can also use regular competitive procedures or apply for temporary positions. SEA candidates must meet job qualifications, have a severe disability, and have a rehabilitation counselor certify that the person has the ability to do the job without risk to self or others. Medical documentation is required. Obtain SEA applications from a Workforce Representative.

Follow this link, www.oesc.state.ok.us/job-opportunities/SEA.htm, to the Special Excepted Appointment (SEA) Project webpage.

Oklahoma Office of Personnel Management

Jim Thorpe Building, Room B-22
2101 N. Lincoln
Oklahoma City, OK 73105

405-521-2177 Voice
405-521-6314 TTY
405-524-6942 Fax

opm-mail@opm.state.ok.us
www.ok.gov/opm/

Web site provides current job openings in state government, position descriptions, an online application form which can be printed or filled out on screen and then printed, information on special provisions for persons with severe disabilities and veterans, and other information related to state employment.

Persons with Severe Disabilities Employment Program Administered by the Oklahoma Office of Personnel Management, follow this link, to OPM's webpage.

Tests for all state jobs may be waived for those qualified applicants certified as eligible for this Program through the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services. State agencies may hire qualified applicants regardless of whether their names appear on registers maintained by the Office of Personnel Management. Applicants hired through this program are eligible for permanent status in the classified service upon successful completion of a probationary period.

To participate:

Obtain a certification letter from the Department of Rehabilitation Services stating that he or she has a severe disability as defined by state law.
Identify the state jobs for which you wish to apply and for which you qualify.
Submit the original disability certification letter and a completed application for each job family for which you apply to the Applicant Services Division of the Office of Personnel Management. Keep a copy of the certification letter for your records. An Applicant Services Division staff member will review your application(s) to determine that you meet the minimum qualifications and send a letter certifying approved job titles to your mailing address. This letter is valid for six months. If you are still interested in seeking employment after the six months have elapsed, you must submit a written request to the Office of Personnel Management for an updated letter.
Contact the Human Resources department of individual agencies to locate vacancies. You will need to have copies of the Department of Rehabilitation Services disability certification letter and the Office of Personnel Management job certification letter available.

IMPORTANT: An applicant can use the standard method of applying for state jobs at the same time he or she uses the Persons with Severe Disabilities Employment Program method. Under the standard Merit System process, a person fills out a state application, takes a test if required, and if determined qualified, the person's name is placed on a register (list) and sent out to agencies with job openings. Each time an agency requests a register, only the names of people at the top of the register are sent. By using both the competitive Merit System application and the Persons with Severe Disabilities Employment Program method, applicants can maximize their chances to obtain state jobs. OPM asks that applicants in the Persons with Severe Disabilities Employment Program who also want to use the standard application process notify OPM in writing at the address listed above.

State Work Incentive Program provides Oklahoma state agencies may hire TANF (welfare) recipients and clients of the State Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) for temporary positions up to 2 years without having to count these positions against their legislatively set limits on positions (FTEs). Work Incentive employees may be eligible for conversion to permanent status after two years. DRS clients were included in the Work Incentive Program by 2000 state legislation that became effective November 1, 2000.

U.S. Department of Labor

200 Constitution Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20210

866-633-7365 Toll Free
877-889-5627 Toll Free TTY
202-693-7888 Fax

www.disabilityinfo.gov

DisabilityInfo.gov is the federal government's one-stop Web site for people with disabilities, their families, employers, veterans and service members, workforce professionals and many others. A collaborative effort among twenty-two federal agencies, DisabilityInfo.gov connects people with disabilities to the information and resources they need to actively participate in the workforce and in their communities.

U.S. Office of Personnel Management

USA Jobs
1900 E St. N.W.
Washington, DC 20415

202-606-1800 Voice
202-606-2532 TTY

www.usajobs.gov

USAJOBS is the Federal Government's official one-stop source for Federal jobs and employment information.

Automated Telephone System - An interactive voice response telephone system which can be reached at 703-724-1850 Voice or 978-461-8404 TDD. By telephone, job seekers can access worldwide current job vacancies, employment information fact sheets, and applications and forms, and in some instances, apply for jobs by phone.

U.S. Office of Personnel Management

Federal Employment of People with Disabilities
1900 E St. N.W.
Washington, DC 20415

202-606-1800 Voice
202-606-2532 TTY

www.opm.gov/disability/

This site provides a simple and straightforward mechanism to help Americans, with and without disabilities, better understand how to hire and retain persons with disabilities.

The site provides access to information that is relevant to the recruitment, employment, and retention of individuals with disabilities in the Federal Government. This information includes Federal and state laws as well as other governmental and non-governmental sites.

They have attempted to identify helpful guidance and information to assist in the recruitment and retention of persons with disabilities. This site is not designed, however, to address or respond to individual circumstances. Individualized inquiries should be addressed to the current or potential employing agency.

Workforce Oklahoma

888-840-9675 Toll Free

www.workforceok.org

A system of One-Stop career and service centers that provide a variety of career, training, job search and support services. The centers combine offices of the State Employment Service, Jobs Training Partnership Act (JTPA) and Department of Human Services. Other participating agencies may include: Community Colleges, Area Career and Technical Schools, Private Training Institutions, Adult Basic Education, Department of Rehabilitation Services, Department of Commerce, Tribal governments, and community-based organizations.

Also see Section 3: One-Stop Workforce Centers by following this link, www.okrehab.org/guide/Ch03/03-03.asp.

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07/09/2008