Employment Opportunities

The Work Force Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities (WRP) is designed to assist students with disabilities gain employment with Federal agencies. This program is coordinated by the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), Department of Labor and the Department of Defense, with a consortium of sixteen other Federal agencies participating. In addition to summer opportunities, this program also provides excellent opportunities for college students with disabilities to explore permanent Federal job opportunities. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) will use this program to help attain its goal of increasing the number of new hires of persons with disabilities.

Accommodations

All students hired under the WRP are provided the necessary work place accommodations such as sign language interpreting services, microcomputer accessible technologies, and telecommunication devices for the deaf. In order to successfully perform essential job functions, the Department of Defense lends equipment to the employing agency for the duration of the WRP student's employment.

Housing

Assistance is coordinated by the WRP for students who accept employment outside of the local commuting area. Housing arrangements are made with local colleges, universities and private facilities to identify discounted rates. The cost is borne by the student.

Networking

Activities are sponsored by ODEP for students to meet each other, attend a Congressional hearing and meet their State representatives, tour the White House, as well as other activities.

For Information

Please contact Bill Haig, USDA Disability Employment Program Manager, Departmental Administration, Office of Human Resources Management, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250 at (202) 720-0516 voice or (202) 720-7850 (fax), or william.haig@usda.gov (e-mail).  Additionally, to learn about USDA's efforts to achieve equitable consistent, Department-wide policies and reasonable accommodations, you may access the Secretary's Advisory Committee for Employees with Disabilities' Internet site at http://www.saced.usda.gov.