Government Seeks to Employ More People with Disabilities

Government Seeks to Employ More People with Disabilities

On the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, President
Obama July 26, signed an executive order aimed at increasing federal hiring
of persons with disabilities. According to the White House, the executive
order fulfills a pledge by the president to make the federal government a
model employer of people with disabilities.

The executive order establishes mechanisms such as mandatory training for
hiring managers and requires agencies to prepare strategic plans to be
approved by the Office of Personnel Management and the Office of Management
and Budget.

The order also requires OPM to develop model guidelines and assistance for
hiring people with disabilities, report to the president about progress, and
publicize results on a website as a way to promote transparency, the White
House said. Obama held a signing ceremony on the lawn of the White House,
attended by cabinet secretaries, administration officials, and advocates for
the disabled. The president said it was a honor to be with the audience on
the 20th anniversary of "one of the most comprehensive civil rights bills in
the history of this country."

He said it was the goal of his administration to advance the ADA so that not
just the letter of the law, but the spirit of the law, is applied across the
country. Signed under Bush Administration Obama said he spoke with former
President George H.W. Bush, under whose administration the ADA was signed,
just prior to the ceremony. "Today, as we commemorate what the ADA
accomplished, we celebrate who the ADA was all about. It was about the young
girl in Washington state who just wanted to see a movie in her hometown
theater, but was turned away because she had cerebral palsy," Obama said.
Separately, the president issued a proclamation declaring July 26 the
anniversary of the ADA.

The proclamation also stated that the federal government is committed to
leading by example in hiring people with disabilities, with focused efforts
to recruit, retain, and support these public servants. "In partnership with
the many federal agencies and departments with ADA responsibilities, my
administration will uphold strong and meaningful enforcement of the ADA to
eliminate discrimination in employment, housing, public services, and
community accommodations," the proclamation stated. The president also urged
all Americans to visit Disability.gov for comprehensive disability-related
information and resources.