Several groundbreaking actions by the Obama Administration were announced in the regular e-communications from the White House Office of Disability.

OPM Issues a Final Rule to Schedule A Hiring Authority, Opening Access to People with Disabilities

"Yesterday the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued final regulations pertaining to a special hiring authority for the appointment of persons with certain disabilities.  The final rule for 'Excepted Service – Appointment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities, Severe Physical Disabilities, and Psychiatric Disabilities,' also known as 'Schedule A Hiring Authority,' simplifies the hiring process for job applicants with disabilities who have work, educational, or other relevant experience, by relieving them of the burden of procuring 'certificates of readiness' as a condition of appointment. The new regulations are consistent with the President’s policy of removing barriers and encouraging the employment of individuals with disabilities in the federal workforce, as expressed in Executive Order 13548, “Increasing Federal Employment of Individuals With Disabilities.”

Read more about the final rule issued by OPM at the following link: http://www.opm.gov/news/releases/2013/02/opm-issues-final-rule-to-simplify-schedule-a-hiring-authority-for-persons-with-disabilities/

Disability Updates

Note: If you received this email as a forward but would like to be added to the White House Disability Group email distribution list, please visit our website at http://www.whitehouse.gov/disability-issues-contact and fill out the "contact us" form in the disabilities section, or you can email us at disability@who.eop.gov and provide your full name, city, state, and organization.

Recent disability announcements include the Office of Personnel Management issuing a final rule to Schedule A hiring authority to make it easier to hire persons with certain disabilities, the awarding of the 2012 Presidential Citizens Medal, new initiatives by HUD and HHS to further aid low income people with disabilities, and reminders regarding FEMA’s aid to Hurricane Sandy survivors with home accessibility needs.

OPM Issues a Final Rule to Schedule A Hiring Authority, Opening Access to People with Disabilities

"Yesterday the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued final regulations pertaining to a special hiring authority for the appointment of persons with certain disabilities.  The final rule for 'Excepted Service – Appointment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities, Severe Physical Disabilities, and Psychiatric Disabilities,' also known as 'Schedule A Hiring Authority,' simplifies the hiring process for job applicants with disabilities who have work, educational, or other relevant experience, by relieving them of the burden of procuring 'certificates of readiness' as a condition of appointment. The new regulations are consistent with the President’s policy of removing barriers and encouraging the employment of individuals with disabilities in the federal workforce, as expressed in Executive Order 13548, “Increasing Federal Employment of Individuals With Disabilities.”

Read more about the final rule issued by OPM at the following link: http://www.opm.gov/news/releases/2013/02/opm-issues-final-rule-to-simplify-schedule-a-hiring-authority-for-persons-with-disabilities/

2012 Presidential Citizens Medal

Last week the president honored American citizens who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens. at the Citizens Medal Award ceremony. Watch the full video of the ceremony below or at the following link: http://youtu.be/YOkfc4O_8aU

Speaking at the ceremony, the President said:

“When Janice Jackson was hit by a car at the age of 24, she was told by her doctors that the only thing she would ever move again were her shoulders.  After suffering an injury like that, nobody would have faulted Janice for just focusing on herself.  But as she recovered, and she regained her strength, she resolved to give some of that strength to others in need.  Janice said that ‘from a wheelchair, I decided to devote my life to women with disabilities…to tell them that even though you have limitations, you also have abilities.’ And every day through her mentorship and through her advocacy, that’s exactly what she’s doing.”

“When Adam Burke returned from Iraq, he had more than earned the right to just focus on himself. He had served our nation with honor; a recipient of the Purple Heart for wounds he received while rescuing a comrade from enemy fire. Because of that attack –- because of the shrapnel that tore through his head and his legs –- when Adam came home, he came home a wounded warrior, suffering from a traumatic brain injury, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. But a few years later, Adam found himself back on the family farm, and he noticed that working the land was therapeutic. His coordination improved. He was able to put aside his cane. So he decided to use farming to help other veterans with similar injuries see similar benefits. And by starting Veterans Farm, he’s doing that every day.”

Read more about the recipients of the Presidential Citizens Medal at the following link: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/15/remarks-president-presentation-2012-presidential-citizens-medals

HUD and HHS Partner to Service Low Income People with Disabilities

"To prevent thousands of people with disabilities from experiencing homelessness or unnecessary institutionalization, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced nearly $98 million in funding for 13 state housing agencies for rental assistance to extremely low-income persons with disabilities, many of whom are transitioning out of institutional settings or are at high risk of homelessness."

Read more about the HUD and HHS initiative to aid low income people with disabilities at the following link: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2013pres/02/20130212b.html

FEMA Encourages Sandy Survivors with Home Accessibility Needs to Contact Them

"Survivors with home accessibility needs because of Hurricane Sandy, especially older adults and people with disabilities, are encouraged to stay in touch with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA may be able to assist if elevators or electricity are not working properly, even if the structure did not sustain damage."

Read the full text about FEMA aid to Sandy survivors with home accessibility needs at the following link: http://www.fema.gov/news-release/2013/02/15/sandy-survivors-home-accessibility-needs-should-contact-fema