[blindlaw] binders = Schedule A? (a nonpartisan question)

Fri Oct 19 22:46:56 UTC 2012

Hello,
The problem specific to people on the list, as I understand it, is that disability is a grounds for rather than the sole basis of Schedule A appointment. More to the point, another reason to use Schedule A appointments is special requirements of a position, which happens to include all attorney positions. The Office of Personnel Management is forbidden by law from creating standards for rating attorneys and thus must fill all attorney positions by Schedule A non-competitive appointment. This would seem to render the typical incentive for the hiring authority, the added flexibility of faster appointment than the typical federal hiring process if you pick someone with a disability, rather moot. If I were a cynical person, I'd say that identifying yourself as a person with a disability by routing an application through a Schedule A coordinator in addition to following the regular process might be the worst thing you could do, assuming that disability is indeed a net negative without an incentive for the hiring authority as a counterweight, which I think is the whole point of the program.
If on the other hand, one believes federal agencies are sincere in their desire to fulfill their diversity mandates, than Schedule A remains a powerful tool for identifying qualified people with disabilities. I have had a fair amount of success working with Schedule A coordinators. The problem as I've said is that the end result is not a hiring authority jumping at the opportunity to hire me, since anyone they pick will be a Schedule A hire.
That's all based on things that I've been told or rooted out while poking around online as just another person looking for a job. I'd be happy to learn I was mistaken in my understanding of Schedule A as applies to persons with disabilities.
Aser Tolentino

P.S. Thanks Ross for the job postings, I've acted on several in recent weeks.

On Oct 19, 2012, at 2:38 PM, Patti Chang <pattichang at att.net> wrote:

> I do know of several.
> 
> p.s. give to our annual appeal by sending to NFBI c/o glenn Moore po box 1065 Elgin, IL 60121.
> 
> Patti S. Gregory-Chang
> NFBI President 
> NFB, Scholarship Committee Chair
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> On Oct 19, 2012, at 1:44 PM, "William T. Miller" <william_t_miller at hotmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Sounds familiar. I don't feel entitled to noncompetitive status, but please
>> spare me the dangling carrot. I'm curious to know if anyone on the list is
>> aware of any Schedule A success stories -- I'd love to find out that my
>> skepticism regarding the program is unwarranted.
>> 
>> Will Miller
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Alcidonis Law Office [mailto:attorney at alcidonislaw.com] 
>> Sent: Friday, October 19, 2012 12:13 AM
>> To: Blind Law Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] binders = Schedule A? (a nonpartisan question)
>> 
>> As I said, it is just a joke. Long ago I stopped wasting my time with 
>> so-called schedule A coordinators. One of them pretty much admitted to me: 
>> "I don't think I am still the coordinator though." Really? And your name is 
>> on the government's website?
>> 
>> I also don't see what the heck they are coordinating if they have applicants
>> 
>> send resume to their attentions and the applicant just never receives even 
>> an acknowledgement of receipt.
>> 
>> 
>> Rod
>> 
>> -----Original Message----- 
>> From: Deepa Goraya
>> Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 11:49 PM
>> To: 'Blind Law Mailing List'
>> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] binders = Schedule A? (a nonpartisan question)
>> 
>> Many Schedule A coordinators don't even return calls or emails. I have tried
>> contacting some of them.
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blindlaw [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Alcidonis
>> Law Office
>> Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 4:25 PM
>> To: Blind Law Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] binders = Schedule A? (a nonpartisan question)
>> 
>> Some of the schedule A coordinators don't even know they hold that title.
>> The whole thing is a joke.
>> 
>> 
>> Rod
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Angie Matney
>> Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 5:41 PM
>> To: Blind Law Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] binders = Schedule A? (a nonpartisan question)
>> 
>> Hello Will:
>> 
>> Jobs filled through schedule a do not have to be (but may be) advertized. I
>> guess you could contact the agency you're interested in and see if there are
>> openings. This page has more information:
>> 
>> http://www.opm.gov/disability/mngr_3-13.asp
>> 
>> I don't know how well this theoretically great program works in practice.
>> 
>> Angie
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On 10/18/12, Daniel McBride <dlmlaw at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>>> Will:
>>> 
>>> Not only do I find the Schedule A Federal program somewhat suspect, I
>>> am curious about the complete absence of Schedule A type programs at
>>> the state and local levels.
>>> 
>>> I have been practicing criminal law for 29 years; 3 years as a
>>> prosecutor and the remainder in defense.  The local DA's office is
>>> quite familiar with me and my abilities.  However, my efforts to gain
>>> employment with them do not receive the time of day.  I have no doubt
>>> but that their stated EEOC policy is mere form lacking any substance.
>>> 
>>> I cannot agree more with the posts entered since Ross' apology.
>>> 
>>> Dan McBride, Attorney
>>> Fort Worth, Texas
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: blindlaw [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>>> William T.
>>> Miller
>>> Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 1:41 PM
>>> To: 'Blind Law Mailing List'
>>> Subject: [blindlaw] binders = Schedule A? (a nonpartisan question)
>>> 
>>> Theoretically there is a process similar to the "binders" mentioned in
>>> the last presidential debate: Schedule A. I'm curious if this list
>>> feels that schedule A is an effective process? My understanding of
>>> Schedule A is that disabled candidates for federal positions can post
>>> for jobs before they are posted publicly and, if qualified, the hiring
>>> manager may hire them noncompetitively. However, I don't understand
>>> how disabled job candidates are supposed to know of potential jobs
>>> before they are posted to the public.
>>> If disabled candidates have no way of knowing what Schedule A
>>> opportunities exists, then how can he or she take advantage of the
>>> program? I'm definitely no expert on this topic, so if anyone on the
>>> list can correct me and explain how one applies for a specific
>>> position as a Schedule A candidate, please enlighten me.
>>> Thank you,
>>> 
>>> Will Miller
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Daniel K. Beitz [mailto:dbeitz at wiennergould.com]
>>> Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 12:54 PM
>>> To: 'Blind Law Mailing List'
>>> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] "Question" Posting
>>> 
>>> I didn't see anything wrong with the post.
>>> 
>>> -------------------------------------------
>>> Daniel K. Beitz
>>> Wienner & Gould, P.C.
>>> 950 University Dr., Ste. 350
>>> Rochester, MI  48307
>>> Phone:  (248) 841-9405
>>> Fax:  (248) 652-2729
>>> dbeitz at wiennergould.com
>>> This email transmission and any documents, files or previous email
>>> messages attached to it may contain confidential information that is
>>> legally privileged.  If you are not the intended recipient or the
>>> individual responsible for delivering this email to the intended
>>> recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, or
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>>> attached to this email is strictly prohibited.  Should you receive
>>> this communication in error, please notify us immediately by replying
>>> to the sender of this email or by telephoning us at (248) 841-9400.
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: blindlaw [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ross
>>> Doerr
>>> Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 12:45 PM
>>> To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
>>> Subject: [blindlaw] "Question" Posting
>>> 
>>> Hello List:
>>> 
>>> I am the one who posted the "question" about why disabled job seekers
>>> aren't being asked for binders full of their resumes to get more of
>>> "us" into the workplace. It was my blatant reference to a comment made
>>> during the presidential debate.
>>> 
>>> In view of the on list and off list reprimands I have received about
>>> the posting, I feel that I should go onto the list and apologize for
>>> posting what is, as it has been pointed out to me repeatedly, an off
>>> topic message.
>>> 
>>> I had thought that, in view of the underlying unemployment  issues
>>> that face those of us on the list, and those of us who regularly post
>>> job listings, such as myself and Noel Nightengale, that an idea to
>>> improve the employment situation would be net with some positive
>>> thought provocation.
>>> 
>>> Since I was wrong, I apologize to the list as a whole for my off
>>> topic posting. It will not happen again.
>>> 
>>> Ross A. Doerr Attorney at law
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
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