Federal Disability Emphasis Program

The Federal government strives to create and maintain a sound, diverse, and cooperative work environment. Equal Opportunity in employment for all people, regardless of race color, sex, age, religion, national origin, or disability is a common goal across government. However, persons with disabilities are often overlooked as a source of employable talent.

On March 13, 1998, President Clinton addressed the underemployment of people with disabilities by signing executive order 13078 establishing the Presidential Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities. The task Force was charged with creating a coordinated and aggressive national policy to bring working-age individuals with disabilities into gainful employment at a rate approaching that of the general adult population.

In the Task Force's first report "Recharting the Course", the Office of Personnel Management was directed to develop a plan that will help insure an increased representation of adults with disabilities in the Federal work force. The Plan will help ensure that departments and agencies:

• Recruit widely for positions at all levels
• Provide opportunities for students with disabilities
• Give full consideration to employees with disabilities for inclusion in developmental opportunities
• Collect and maintain data to monitor success
• Provide reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities, consistent with guidance from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Program Manager: Sharon Small, (573) 876-9360

• Mission Statement
• Guidelines for Communicating with People with Disabilities
• Association of Persons with Disabilities in Agriculture
• Missouri AgrAbility Project
• Disability Resources
• Uniform Federal Disability Accessibility Standards
• National Organization on Disability
• Disability Awareness Month Posters
  • 2005 (246 KB)
  • 2006 (888 KB)

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