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June 23, 2009
Getting Past the Federal Government Gatekeepers
So far, this month, we've focused on the real-life situations of two individuals who have visual impairments.
First, we met Lee, who began his 36-year career with the Internal Revenue Service in July, 1973, and is now Chief Accessibility Coordinator for the Wage and Investment Division of IRS.
For more about Lee you can read his career narrative.
Second, we learned about George, who is now going totally blind after working as a math tutor and is not sure how to continue his career.
Thanks to Jeremiah, Abraham, Eileen, Jim, Jeffrey, Barney, Kathy and Jeff for all the very helpful tips you gave George.
Check and join the discussion.
Today, I'd like to introduce you to another eSight member, Michelle Clark, who writes:
"All around me there are e-mails, job fairs, and people/counselors telling me the Federal Government is hiring. I believe that is wonderful, but I'm having difficulty applying.
"I find it difficult to apply even when I do hear of jobs because (I'm having trouble) navigating www.usajobs.gov..
"How do I break through the gatekeepers in applying for Federal Government jobs I feel I can do?"
Michelle brings up an important issue. Some Federal agencies (such as Social Security Administration) are being flooded with job applicants now that they have announced their hiring targets.
When applying for a federal Government job, it may be much easier to work with your state's commission for visually impaired people or your area's Selective Placement Coordinator (SPC).
You'll then know whether it's possible to apply for the job under "Schedule A" hiring authority, bypassing the normal selection process.
For a directory of regional SPC contacts, go to
http://www.cessi.net/ttw/SSAHires/spc.html
For information about how to apply for a federal job under "Schedule A," go to http://www.cessi.net/ttw/SSAHires/docs/Schedule_A_Fast_Facts.pdf
Also keep in mind that Olegario (Ollie). Cantos VII, Esq., who is a member of U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder's Committee on Employment of Persons with Disabilities, notified eSight member James J. Elekes, M.Ed, MPA, CPM, Trans-Access Associates, that the U.S. Department of Justice has recently issued a department-wide call to hire and promote persons with disabilities.
For those who wish to seek employment in the U.S. Department of Justice, that's important news.
The department's goal is to have two percent of its workforce of more than 100,000 consist of people with disabilities.
Ollie recommends that job-seekers remind hiring authorities of the call to action issued by the Attorney General, who is following President Obama's commitment to advance employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.
"I would like nothing more than for all individuals with disabilities, who have an interest in joining our ranks, to make application to available positions for which they qualify," writes Ollie, who is himself blind.
Attorney General Holder announced that The Justice Management Division's (JMD) Human Resources and Equal Employment Opportunity Staffs are available to provide information about special hiring authorities and accommodations for people with disabilities.
He writes:
"These offices also will report quarterly to me on the Department's progress. If you have any questions you may contact Rod Markham, Director, Human Resources Staff, JMD or Vontell D. Frost-Tucker, Director, Equal Employment Opportunity Staff, JMD."
Add your comments to this posting
Posted by Liz Seger at June 23, 2009 06:05 PM
Comments
Hello. I agree with Michelle Clark in regards to finding a job in the Federal Government. I am also legally blind and I have been trying to find a job with the Social Security to no success. I'm even in the ticket to work program with Social Security and still not having any luck. Recently I applyed for a position for a Social Insurance specialist Csr Bilingual because I speak spanish. I applyed on Usa jobs and was found eligible but wasn't selected for the job. So now you tell me how is this schedule A hiring suppose to help someone when not even the job placement coordinator responds to your questions. It's not easy to get a job with the Federal Government but we have to keep trying and not give up. Especially now that they say that Social Security is going to hire persons with disabilities. Well, this is my comment and I hope that my job search ends soon and others job search too. Thanks. Noemi Martinez.
Posted by: Noemi Martinez at June 26, 2009 12:17 AM
I have been a performing jaz pianist for about 25 years, an now, with the development of music production software, am planning to open my own home studio. To this end, I have a web site up and running, but nobody seems to know that it exists, an have had no inqueries as to my services, much less the kind of music I produce. The site is being hosted and designed by a blind educater who lives in Akron Ohio, who ha been very helpful in all regzards except this particular problem. Could you give any recommendations to solve this? Bet, Scott. scotttreeman@hotmil.com scotttreeman.com
Posted by: Scot Treeman at June 27, 2009 10:08 PM
Go to the offices of your elected officials, explain what you've done, how the system is not user-friendly, what you want to accomplish, and ask for help. It's been my experience that our elected officials don't seem to "get" how complicated the Federal Government is until we make an appointment, go to the office, and describe our situations. I've found that the staff is very helpful when they know there's a problem somewhere in your interaction with the government and your desire to solve it.
Posted by: Mary L. McGee at July 8, 2009 04:34 PM