[blindlaw] binders = Schedule A? (a nonpartisan question)
Ross Doerr
rumpole at roadrunner.com
Mon Oct 29 16:36:04 UTC 2012
Thank you Ronza. I see that you did a great deal of networking, and that is
something I have been trying to do a lot. I didn't know that you knew
Joanne Wilson - now a former director of a Federal Agency is a connection!
I have been doing the same sort of emailing that you suggest with
introductory letters with a resume, and application writing for 3 years, and
don't seem to get much beyond a reply letter saying either they will keep me
on file for the next job opening or that they don't know what they can do to
help.
It would seem that a move out of Maine to a more cosmepolitan area such as
down in Boston or WDC would be in order. The reason I say that is we don't
really have any mass transit up here to speak of unless you are on the
Amtrack train, running out of Portland regularly, so being able to do the
type of networking that you refer to isn't possible on a bus or train up
here, but I wish that it were.
My litigation record is an excellent one in State and Federal matters but
the type of open-minded disability hiring doesn't seem to be as evident in
this area. Your experiences highlight the need to be either in a physical
location where the type of casual, coincidental contacts can be made, or to
get a good networking contact to help you get a foot in the door. Like you,
I'm a proven and seasoned professional in healthcare litigation (Medicaid)
and with litigation experience in the Help America Vote Act on the
administrative level, and then via ADA Title II into Federal Court for
polling place access.
I'm glad your experiences are successful and not as protracted in the down
side as mine are, but thanks for the information.
Ross A. Doerr Esq.
Admitted to Practice in:
Maine and New Hampshire
F. Ct. Admissions:
ME & NH
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ronza Othman" <rothmanjd at gmail.com>
To: "'Blind Law Mailing List'" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, October 29, 2012 10:13 AM
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] binders = Schedule A? (a nonpartisan question)
> Hi,
>
> I'm happy to help if I can. Anyone interested in tips or tricks beyond
> what
> I share below is welcome to message me privately.
>
> I earned a BA in Philosophy and a BS in Biological Sciences from a very
> small Catholic university in Chicago. I attended DePaul University and
> earned a Masters in Public Services Management with a concentration in
> Healthcare Administration, and I attended DePaul University College of Law
> where I earned my JD. I received a job offer to work in the county
> prosecutor's office post-law school during my last year of law school, but
> the county went broke, and I found out a few weeks before I was to sit for
> the Bar that they had to rescind all offers for new people. So I drifted
> a
> little bit, taking whatever jobs I could find, including working as an
> attorney investigator for a pseudo-federal agency (which means a federal
> judge stood up this office on a temporary basis to investigate and
> adjudicate employment discrimination claims for a class action). I got
> that
> job by simply sending an email with my resume and cover letter after
> seeing
> an ad for it on my law school's career office website. I also worked for
> a
> law firm for a bit, eventually managing the suburban branch, and then I
> struck out on my own. Meanwhile, I was handling immigration cases, both
> for
> the law firm and when I hung my own shingle, and I was having great
> success
> against USCIS and ICE. That drew some attention to me as an Arab American
> Muslim who was finding the systemic discrimination in DHS programs. I
> also
> networked, networked, networked.
>
> One day, I had a conversation with Joann Wilson from NFB, who asked me
> about
> my future plans. I confided that I wasn't big on managing my own law
> practice and thought I'd prefer to work for a nonprofit or government
> agency
> so I could have greater impact. She offered to introduce me to a friend
> of
> hers, who was the head of the civil rights office at DHS. It turned out
> that he had heard of me because of the litigation I'd been working on in
> Chicago, but he offered to conduct an informational interview with me the
> next time I was in DC thanks to Joann's introduction. I took him up on
> the
> offer, and when a position opened up, I applied for it. I was ready to go
> Schedule A, but they ended up processing my application for that job
> competitively. It took well over a year from initial application until I
> got my start date, but that was in part because I had to obtain a security
> clearance for the job.
>
> I stayed a few years, but I needed a change. I saw a vacancy announcement
> on this list for another federal position - actually Scott LaBarre posted
> it. That same day, I sent out my resume and cover letter to the
> Disability
> Employment Program Manager, and I had my first phone interview later that
> afternoon for that position. Several others on this list were also
> interviewed for that position, I later learned. I was brought in for an
> in-person interview, and I got the job. They used Schedule A for this
> position.
>
> Since then, I've applied using Schedule A maybe 7 times, and I've
> interviewed for 5 positions and have received 3 offers. These have been
> with various Agencies, including SBA, SSA, Education, HUD, and the DOJ.
>
> In my work, I also attend conferences on hiring individuals with
> disabilities. For example, there is an annual conference for federal
> agencies called the Perspectives on Hiring Individuals with Disabilities
> Federal Conference each fall in Washington. It basically teaches agencies
> how to use Schedule A and other hiring authorities like the Workforce
> Recruitment Program (like Schedule A but for current students and recent
> graduates), in addition to resources for providing reasonable
> acommodations
> and strategies for retention. That is where I've met the hundreds of
> Schedule A hires, and I've maintained contact with many of them. Also,
> the
> disability community in Washington is small, so a lot of us know one
> another. We turn up at conferences, workshops, balls, and just randomly
> riding the metro or Marc trains.
>
>
> My experience is that the range in age for those hired using Schedule A is
> all over the place. Since it can be used to hire for pretty much any
> position, it isn't true that most hires are entry-level. I know Schedule
> A
> folks who are attorneys, accountants, actuaries, nurses, education
> specialists, transportation specialists, managers, HR folks, and on and
> on.
> I can't say I know very many in law enforcement though - but then again
> those folks are less likely to share that they have a disability, or their
> disabilities are likely to be hidden rather than obvious.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Regards,
> Ronza
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindlaw [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Daniel
> McBride
> Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2012 10:01 AM
> To: 'Blind Law Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] binders = Schedule A? (a nonpartisan question)
>
> Ronza:
>
> Would you share with us your personal success story? Where did you attend
> undergraduate school and law school? From the time you were licensed to
> practice, how long was it before your Schedule A hire? In which agency,
> and
> in what capacity was the hire?
>
>
> You mention "hundreds" of Schedule A success stories in your area. I
> believe you do not mean hundreds of blind lawyers. Of these success
> stories, what type of disabilities are involved? With which agencies, and
> in what capacity, are these people finding success with Schedule A?
>
> Also, including yourself and the hundreds of others, what would you
> estimate
> the age demographics to be. I know several of us curious about this
> matter
> are in our late 50s to early 60s. Thanks a bunch.
>
> Dan McBride, Attorney
> Fort Worth, Texas
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindlaw [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ronza
> Othman
> Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2012 8:25 AM
> To: 'Blind Law Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] binders = Schedule A? (a nonpartisan question)
>
> Hi Will,
>
> I am a Schedule A "success story" myself, and I know at least two dozen in
> my Agency alone. I'd say overall, I probably know of several hundred
> individuals with disabilities who've been hired using Schedule A. But I
> live and interact in the Washington DC area, so I can't say how effective
> such programs are outside of the headquarters area. I do know folks
> who've
> been hired in the regions, but since the majority of feds work in DC, I'd
> say I'm more familiar with success in that area. In addition, different
> federal agencies have different protocols for implementing Schedule A, so
> I
> can't say each agency takes advantage of Schedule A in the same way.
>
> Regards,
> Ronza
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindlaw [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of William
> T.
> Miller
> Sent: Friday, October 19, 2012 4:44 PM
> To: 'Blind Law Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] binders = Schedule A? (a nonpartisan question)
>
> 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
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>>
>> -----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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