|
|
RESOLUTION: 9-01
RESOLVED, that the Blinded Veterans Association, in
convention assembled in Las Vegas, Nevada, on this 1st
day of September 2001, direct the BVA National Headquarters staff
and the BVA National Board of Directors to encourage the U.S.
Congress and top management of the Department of Veterans Affairs
to insist that the Veterans Health Administration and the Veterans
Benefits Administration more aggressively seek to employ qualified
blinded veterans as positions become more available, AND
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that when VHA and VBA announce and attempt
to fill vacancies or new positions, the hiring facility be strongly
encouraged to interview all the qualified applicants, AND,
FINALLY, BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that management officials at local VA facilities
be reminded that although hiring authority has been decentralized,
this does not exempt them from observing all Federal laws as they
apply to hiring, and that they must be more cognizant of the ADA
and other civil and employment rights legislation with respect
to hiring the disabled.
VA agrees with the intent of this resolution because we are aggressively
seeking to employ qualified disabled veterans, including blinded
veterans, through a number of initiatives. VA is the second leading
Federal agency in the employment of veterans and disabled veterans.
DoD rates number one.
Existing VA policies and practices, as well as Federal regulations
and law, support and encourage the employment of veterans and
individuals with disabilities. VA is particularly focused on protecting
veterans’ rights to employment preferences, and will continue
to work diligently to publicize openings and to attract and employ
veterans, including blinded veterans.
In addition, VA has taken the following specific actions regarding
disabled veterans:
-
Executive Order 13163 – Increasing the Opportunity for
Individuals with Disabilities to be Employed in the Federal
Government: The U.S. Office of Personal Management assigned
VA to hire 17,700 out of the 100,000. This E.O., signed on
July 26, 2000, established that this initiative be accomplished
within five years from the date of signing. Since August 1,
2000, VA has hired 4,703 people with disabilities.
-
VA is part of the OPM task force on veterans’ employment.
The task force is focused on increasing veteran employment
throughout the federal government. Presently, disabled veterans
represent 7.3 percent of the VA workforce. Although it is
forecasted that the workforce will decrease by approximately
19,000 employees over the five-year period from August 1,
2000-2005, the fact that 50 percent of the workforce is eligible
for retirement gives VA an excellent opportunity to continue
to lead by example in the hiring of veterans.
-
VA has established a National Veterans Employment program.
The program focuses on recruiting a pool of highly qualified
veterans candidates to fill vacancies throughout the agency.
The program is also designed to assist veterans in their use
of "veterans preference" in obtaining employment in the federal
government. Please note: Approximately 26 percent of VA’s
overall workforce is comprised of veterans. Our goal is to
increase the number of veterans employed in the agency over
the next five years.
-
On February 27, 2002, Secretary Principi signed an Interagency
Agreement with the Department of Defense Computer/Electronic
Accommodations Program. Under this agreement, employees with
visual, hearing, and dexterity disabilities can be provided
with assistive technology, in other words, reasonable accommodation.
|
|
