Disability Employment

Through the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendment Acts 2009, the Department can hire through traditional competitive hiring processes or by means of a non-competitive, or special appointing authority.  In addition, we are committed to providing reasonable accommodation throughout the hiring process and employment.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered an individual with a disability, you must meet one of the following criteria:

• have a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of your major life activities;
• have a record of such an impairment; or,
• be regarded as having such an impairment.

For additional information, consult the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission website.

Affirmative Action Plan for the Recruitment, Hiring, Advancement, and Retention of Persons with Disabilities

Under 29 C.F.R. §1614.203(e), federal agencies must report to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission their affirmative action plan for persons with disabilities and persons with targeted disabilities, and describe how their plan will improve the recruitment, hiring, advancement, and retention of these individuals.

Reasonable Accommodation

DOJ provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the job application and hiring process, and you meet the eligibility requirements listed above, please notify the human resources specialist listed on the vacancy announcement, or contact the Human Resources Office at the location in which you are seeking employment.  The decision on granting a reasonable accommodation is handled on a case-by-case basis.

For more information, please visit:  Manual and Procedures for Providing Reasonable Accommodation

Special Appointing Authorities

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has established special appointing authorities for people with disabilities.  DOJ has the authority to use a special appointing authority to hire a qualified person with a disability for vacant positions.  These special appointing authorities include:

• 5 CFR 213.3102(ll) for hiring readers, interpreters and personal assistants.  This excepted authority is used to appoint readers, interpreters and personal assistants for employees with severe disabilities.
• 5 CFR 213.3102(t) for hiring people with intellectual disabilities.  This excepted authority is used to appoint persons with intellectual disabilities who have demonstrated satisfactory performance through a temporary appointment, or have been certified as likely to succeed in performing the duties of the job.  They may qualify for conversion to permanent status after two years of satisfactory service.
• 5 CFR 213.3102(u) for hiring people with severe physical disabilities.  This excepted authority is used to appoint persons with severe physical disabilities who have demonstrated satisfactory performance through a temporary appointment, or have been certified as likely to succeed in performing the duties of the job.  After two years of satisfactory service, they may qualify for conversion to permanent status.
• 5 CFR 213.3102(gg) - Positions filled by persons with psychiatric disabilities who have demonstrated their ability to perform satisfactorily under a temporary appointment [such as one authorized in 213.3102(i)(3)] or who are certified as likely to be able to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, by a State vocational rehabilitation counselor, a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Benefits Administration psychologist, vocational rehabilitation counselor, or psychiatrist.  Upon completion of 2 years of satisfactory service under this authority, the employee can be converted, at the discretion of the agency, to competitive status under the provisions of Executive Order 12125 as amended by Executive Order 13124.

For more information on disability employment please visit: Disability Hiring