asi- ti otea oa l · ca, rimt.71,3376. qtaftivi. 94114,401. 44..1.14 ... manpower sources...

DOCUMENT

ID _072 290

-TITLE 1/2Tear =WOO: :Mentally Reta-ided WOrliers inthe Federal .1RetieiCe.

IRETITUTION Ciiil -Washington_; D.C. ,-BUretu -ofRecruiting and Ezainining.

DATE tide 72210..

-PRICE 14E=10.65 HO-93.;9OfeetiArPiotilenti *

*ZiploYsient -.P-t0 tuin-;_ _,.. __.

PrograMBI . kRiuidicapped

DESCRIPTORS

ABSTRACT

' ----

SusaatASi- 44i0'x:secure for *anti :retarded persont-federal -3e_ otea OaI, ti __

0 a _l_ seeeeht n

-ea 1

*.

unities;Statistics; *Pieder*1

peen *Mentally

re =effortsled: _ job opportunities :in

--11P10Ye4- to

co eet_er ens ve Studiesi.tiiowation

vision 3=of ntany

t; -the sUnited states;-:eons sere

4and. as =of June°sidle

ices_Or angel pay syliteset. 43eVetal

techn _627'-41000r-Int

-,1Pederalt,a91_4hive ieither frac

AN 84-YEAR RECORMENTALLY RETARDED WORKERS IN

THE FEDERAL SERVICE

%41.411.00),., e 2"roc, .24.0024.4,E1.1:t

IteAr beet;AMEWSt4Ste

U.S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.EDUCATION & WELFAREOFFICE OF EDUCATION

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRODUCE° EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROMTHE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGINATING IT POINTS OF VIEW OR OPIN.IONS STATED DO NOT NECESSARILYREPRESENT OFFICIAL OFFICE OF EOUCATION POSITION OR POLICY

to.vielyot,

4;.;11:9141147-,-01, sze,. rigeo.k.*

,...,xitt.liscifriti

6 4.N. .. ,4...,..es, .a, Into,valtpi. --Nei

-.!.gt, 0414- z 'ArskIA. .0414;q0:,

1. 1 e :.9 50440.1.4ki\ 4`..441. W .14:.1:10' Art 11. t:

*`,.. /CE,t.:__OZ.,,, fr. :ItIVAII4. el 0.5:ibtk

I LVOIRISMROftritt

fltiggialSrervitrAt..cur.titi-4:400eamagt: \OAee

1- prp .404.0

:tv:41444,,gtArflk_p,4

czir 1.7 freVt. ca,Rimt.71,3376. qtAftivi94114,401 44..1.14!).1 *Mittlio agat:i

igtsviiry9.1010tU4:1;

ierfeg.fiiiitvw=r0 .4411441:flegift '44**53{.40Vir t.jy,ktio.gpi,:i24-iNt4"Atelygt42.40111:151k.14,54.4.151"

tif4,15430110.241sliiriltillO: 64. 4.343'*Istg:v.1441141742litIll'il

r.kg

..e.klithte44ZAVia084 1111' 1;t1:1i. 5A44.irigerig(**114Attittiln :AA%

tt..strT U.S. CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

Bureau of Recruiting and Examining, N.c Manpower Sources Division?At, c0p31 .©Office of Public Policy Employment Programs

November 1972

UMWJAo.FATt"tit+,

.

ATIVer fr ;if e,o) lr& v.. 4-.4-1;t s. AireYgr.3:1J.011e4 VC Aft ifikr evil?

lief *tr.=

-44-youtvettivx

AN 81/2 YEAR= RECORD_Mentally Retarded Workers iniheFederal Service

January 6, 1964, marked an inipOrtant event in the life of TernSmith.* On that day, she went to work for the Federal Governmentas a Housekeeping Aide. A not very remarkable accomplishmentfor most people, but a signal one for Ms. Smith. She is mentallyretarded. Her success on this job was to be repeated in many

-other Federal jobs by thousands Of mentally retarded. men andwomen in the ensuing 81/2 years. This report outlines the stepstaken enroute to these gains and offers a detailed statistical viewof the effort as it-has been conducted all across the country.

Historically, opportunities for employment of mentally retardedpersons in the Federal service had been minimal. Barriers totheiremployment included inflexible qualifying examinations anda geneial misunderstanding about their ability.to perform in acompetitive work setting. By 1963, these hurdles had beenovercome by the establishment of a special hiring authority andby development of procedures which the U.S. Civil ServiceCommission could use to implement a special prOgram forretardates.

One major feature of this campaign is an agreement by Federalagencies to use the services of State vocational rehabilitationdepartments in the direct placement, postemployment counseling,training, and supervision of mentally retarded employees. Thiscommitment permits the substitution of a rehab counselor'sprofessional judgment for the standard testing procedures todetermine employability of an applicant who is retarded. Thisevaluation is formalized by a written certification, prepared by thecounselor and declaring that the retarded individual has theability to perform in a particular job, is physically qualified tohandle the tasks without hazard, and is socially competent tomaintain a proper deportment both in the work environment andduring afterwork hours.

Not the employee's real name.

The effectiveness of this counselor-employer turn is furtherenhanced by a stipulation that the agency will consult the counselorprior to any separation of an einployee.hited under thiS specialauthority. ThiS was set up to reassure the employer that he willnot be compelled to keep an unsatisfactory employe on thepayroll, and to reassure the retardate that continued rehabilitationservices are still available in case he doesn't make it the first timearound.

With these and other guidelines in effect, the program was solidly"based and off to a good start. Most of the Federal agencies beganmaking placements early in 1964 and nre still doingso, provingthat mentally retarded persons can indeed become integral partsof a work force and, in fact, are especially desirable employees forcertain kinds of jobs. The continuing success of the program hasbeen due mainly to the firm rapport among Federal agencyCoordinators of Selective Placement of the Handicapped, Statevocational rehabilitation counselors, and the Civil Service

'Commission.

Techniques were developed to stimulate interest and support byencouraging employers to learn more about retardates' abilitiesand limitations,-and to recognize the broad scale of variationscovered by the term "mental retardation." Extensive studies weremade of tasks performed in low-level, repetitive jobs. Educationaland job-training programs were developed to help retardatesprepare for work at government agencies.

The realsignificance of these efforts has been emphasized in thenumber of retarded men and women who have been rehabilitatedfrom dependency and into gainful employment. The record showsthat, during the past 81/2 years, a total of 7,442 appointments weremade in 40 Federal agenciesbeated-imeyery one of the States.Fifty-three percent of these persons were still working as ofJune 30, 1972a figure which compares fayorably with turnoverrates for all employees in similar grades. Equally interesting is thefact that 3,182 of these individuals were employed for at leastthree years, and often for much longer.

Our first appointee, Terri Smith, is typical. She is still workingin the Federal service, but at another agency. She has progressedtwo grade levels and is now an office machine operator. This hasbeen the experience of many other mentally retarded workers aswell-1,755 promotions and 350 changes from General Scheduleto Wage Grade pay systems (or vice versa) have been madeduring the period of this report. It is important, too, to note that145 retardates were converted to regular, career-conditionalappointments.

This kind of mobility proves that meaningful work experiencescan enable sonic mentally retarded employees to move ahead and,in other instances, even to compete for regular appointmentson an equal footing with the nonretarded.

Employment of the mentally retarded tends to be concentrated in"blue collar" type of work. About 70 percent of the appointmentswere in these job classifications within the Wage Grade andPostal Service systems, while the remaining 30 percent were "whitecollar" jobs in the General Schedule (GS) system.

Job termination records for retarded employees reveal thesame kinds of reasons for leaving as are found in the generalpopulationmoving from the area, getting another job, illness,reduction in force, or expiration of temporary appointment. It isgratifying to see that only a small number of retarded personswere involuntarily separated for poor work performance or forbehavioral reasons. This is a direct result of requiring employeecertification by vocational rehabilitation counselors who accuratelymatch their clients to the jobs available.

Another plus for employment of the mentally retarded has beenthe modification of competitive examiningoperations. Gone is thecustomary paper and pencil testing for unskilled clerical or laborerpositions. Instead, evaluation techniques assess the applicant'smotivation, interest, work history, and other such job-relatedfactors. Using this alternative route to employment, State voca-tional rehabilitation counselors have been able to help their clients

obtain job eligibility. Then, by bringing their selective plaCementskills to bear, they are able to place these clients in suitablepositions..Many mentally retarded persons have been employedthrough this approach, although data about these appointmentsare not included in this report.

This 81/2-year experience in Federal employment proves whatmany educators and vocational rehabilitation specialists haveknown for a long timegiven the opportunity, mentally retardedmen and women can and do produce!

THE STATISTICALPICTURE

Appointments by CSC Region

Cumulative, Current and Total

Region

1/01/64_to

6/30/71

7/01/71to

6/30/72 TotalAtlanta 702 17 719Boston 187 12 199Chicago 1153 .30 1183Dallas 780 93 873Denver 251 7 258New York 465 5 470Philadelphia 515 40 555St. Louis 468 19 487San Francisco 872 22 894Seattle 226 10 236District of Columbia 1552 16 1568

TOTAL 7171 271 7442

Appointments, Separations, Net on Boardby Agency

January 1, 1964 to June 30, 1972

AgencyAppoint-

me m

a

=- Net onBoard

6/30/72Agriculture 161 95 66Air Force 778 333 445Army 840 524 316Civil Service Com. 44 19 25Commerce 163 88 75Defense Atomic Support 2 1 1Defense Supply Agency 91 32 59Environmental Protec. Ag. 4 0 4Federal Commun. Com. 4 2 2Fed. Deposit Ins. Corp. 2 0 2Fed. Home Loan Bank Bd. 2 0 2

14.

Fed. Maritime Com.Fed. Mediation & Concil.

1

603

1

3Federal Power Com. II 4 7Federal Trade Com.. .33 19 14General Account. Office 3 1 2General Services Adm. 834 455 379Government Prtg. Off. 9 4 5Health, Ed. and Welfare 589 211 378

c Hous. and Urb. Develop. 87 30 57Interior 54 36 18Interstate Commerce Com. 11 9 2Justice 38 15 23Labor 48 23 25Nat, Aeron. and Space Ad. 17 2 15Nat. Labor Rd. Bd. 1 1 0'Nat. Science Foundation 6 4 2Navy 386 185 201Office of Econ. Oppor. 21 7 14Off. Manag. and Budget 3 1 2Postal Service 1,695 513 1,182Sec. and Exch. Comm 6 2 4Small Business Adm. 5 2 3Smithsonian Institution 15 13 2t

Agency

,

Appoint-meats

&parrtans

Net onBoard

6/30/72State 4 4 0Transportation 136 60 76Treasury 566 381 185U.S. Inform. Agency 15 8 7U.S. Tax Court 2 1 1Veterans Admin. 749 382 367

TOTAL 7,442 3,470 3,972

Appointments by Region and Agency

Cumulative, Current, and Total

Region Agency

1/01/64to

6/30/71

7/01/71

6/30/72 TotalAtlanta Air Force 98 5 103

Agriculture 8 0 8Army 121 0 121Defense Supply Agency 2 0 2Labor

1 0 1

Envirorimental Protec. Ag. 2 0 2General Services Admin. 76 0 76Health, Educ. & Welfare 36 1 37Housing & Urban Develop. 2 0 2Nat'l Aeron. & Space Ad. 2 0 2Navy 46 0 46Office of Economic Opport. 2 0 2Postal Service 139 6 145Transportation 12 0 12

I-",_-:_;.---------,,-

Region Agency

TreasuryVeterans Administration

1/01/64

6/30 /71

9361

7/01/71to

6/30/72

05

17

Total

9366

701 718

Boston Air Force 20 3 23

Army . 7 1 8

Civil Service Comm. 1 0 1

Defense Supply Agency 1 0 1

Justice 1 0 1

General Services Admin. 17. 0 17

Health, Educ. & Welfare 6 0 6

Navy 24 0 24

Postal Service 35 0 35

Small Business Admin. 2 0 2

Treasury 32 4 36

Veterans Administration 42 4 46

188 12 200

Chicago Air Force 118 5 123

Agriculture 7 0 7

Army 36 0 36

Commerce 11 0 11



General Services Admin. 130 0 130


Hous. and Urb. Develop. 4 0 4

Gov't Printing Office 1 0 1

Nat'l Aeron. & Space Admin. 4 0 4

Navy 20 0 20

Postal Service 07 10 617

Transportation 5 0 5

Treasury 61 3 64

Veterans Administration 103 13 116

1,152 31 1,183

Region Agency

1/01/64to

6/30/71

7/01/71to

6/30/72 TotalDallas Air Force 194 55 249

Agriculture 11 0 11Army 207 30 237Civil Service Comm. 2 0 2Defense Atomic Support Ag. 2 0 2Defense Supply Agency 2 0 2General Services Admin. 45 1 46Health, Educ. & Welfare 16 0 16Housing & Urban Develop. 2 0 2Interior 5 0 5Nat'l Aeron. & Space Admin. 3 0 3Navy 31 1 32Postal Service 99 4 103Transportation 29 0 29Treasury 22 0 22Veterans Administration 110 2 112

780 93 873

Denver Air Force 77 4 81Agriculture 13 0 13Army 21 0 21Defense Supply Agency 18 0 18General Services Admin. 30 0 30Interior 3 0 3Office of Econ. Opport. 1 0 1

Postal Service 59 0 59Treasury 11 0 11Veterans Administration 18 3 21

251 7 258

New York Air Force 8 0 8Army 44 0 44Commerce 1 0 1

Civil Service Comm. 5 0 5Defense Supply Agency 11 0 11General Services Admin. 27 1 28

Region Agency

1/01/64to

6/30/71

7/01/71to

6/30/72 Total


Office of Econ. Opport. 1 0 1

Postal Service 225 2 227Sec. & Exchange Comm. 1 0 1

Transportation 8 0 8Treasury 65 0 65Veterans Administration 54 2 56

465 5 470

Philadelphia Air Force 4 1 5Agriculture 2 0 2Army 74 1 75Commerce 3 4 7Civil Service Comm.. 1 0 1

Office of Sec. of Defense 0 3 3

Defense Supply Agency 0 6 6Def. Contract Ad. Ser. Cntr. 1 0 1

Def. Industrial Supply Cntr. 6 0 6Defense Stipport 9 0 9General Services Admin. 50 1 51Health, Educ. & Welfare 90 18 108Housing & Urban Develop. 1 0 1

Interior 3 0 3

Navy 69 1 70Postal Service 109 0 109Transportation 0 1 1

Treasury 33 0 33Veterans Administration 60 4 64

515 40 555

St. Louis Air Force 10 2 12'Agriculture 12 0 12Army 79 3 82Commerce 3 0 3


Region Agency

1/01/64to

6/30/71

7101/71to

6/30/72 Total

General Services Admin. 228 2 230Health, E 'tic. & Welfare 23 0 23Interior 1 0 1

Postal Service 44 0 44Transportation 1 0 1


468 19 487

San Francisco Air Force 150 11 161Agriculture 20 0 20Army 7 2 9Civil Service Comm.. 8 0 8Defense Supply Agency 14 0 14General Services Admin. 136 0 136Health, Educ. & Welfare 32 1 33Housing & Urban Develop. 2 0 2Interior 2 0 2Nat'l Aeron. & Space Ad. 1 0 1

Navy 71 4 75Postal Service 268 1 269Transportation 1 0 1


872 22 894

Seattle Air Force 7 1 8Agriculture 35 0 35Army 11 0 11


General Services Admin. 8 0 8Health, Educ. & Welfare 7 0 7Housing & Urban Develop. 8 0 8Interior 21 1 22Navy 18 0 18

Region Agency

Postal ServiceTransportationVeterans Administration

1/01/64to

6/30/71

611

48

7/01/71to

6/30/72

206

10

Total

631

54226 236

District ofColumbia Air Force 5 0 5

Agriculture 53 0 53Army 196 0 196Office of Management & Bug. 3 0 3

Commerce 138 3 141

Civil Service Comm: 15 0 15


Justice 36 1 37

Labor 47 0 47Environmental Protec. Ag. 2 0 2

Federal Commun. Comm. 4 0 4Fed. Dep. Ins. Corp. 2 0 2

Fed. Home Loan Bank Board 2 0 2

Fed. Mediation & Council 6 0 6

Fed. Power Comm. 11 0 11

Fed. Trade Comm. 33 0 33General Services Admin. 82 0 82Health, Educ. & Welfare 320 2 322Housing & Urban Develop. 68 1- 0 68U.S. Info. Agency 15 0 15

Interstate Commerce Comm. 11 0 11

Interior 17 1 18

Gen. Accting Office 3 0 3

Gov't Printing Office 8 0 8

Fed. Maritime Comm. 1 0 1

Nat'l Science Foundation 6 0 6Nat'l Labor Relations Board 1 0 1

Nat'l Aeron. & Space Admin. 7 0 7

Navy 100 1 101

Off. of Econ. Opport. 16 1 17

Region Agency

1/01/64to

7/01/71to

6/30/72Total

Postal Service 23 1 24Small Business Adm:n. 3 0 3

Sec. Exchange Comm. 5 0 5

Smithsonian Institution 15 0 15

State 4 0 4U.S. Tax Court 2 0 2

Transportation 78 0 78Treasury 190 5 195Veterans Administration 20 0 20

1,553 15 1,568

TOTALS 7,171 271 7,442

Appointments !,y State


State

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelaware .

District of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdaho

Number State Number

50 Illinois 5194 Indiana 63

59 Iowa 2515 Kansas 36

815 Kentucky 58100 Louisiana 7236 Maine 6

8 Maryland 3501,158 Massachusetts 122

167 Michigan 264248 Minnesota 78

7 Mississippi 2331 Missouri 401.

ea-

State Number State NumberMontana 18 South Carolina 46Nebraska 24 South Dakota 7Nevada 16 Tennessee 42.New Hampshire 9 Texas 519New Jersey 95 Utah 114New Mexico 82 Vermont 2New York 375 Virginia 300North Carolina 87

Washington 132North DakotaOhioOklahoma

6204185

West VirginiaWisconsin

951

Oregon 69 Wyoming 11

Pennsylvania 297 (Not Recorded) 3Rhode Island 24 TOTAL 7,442

4

Reasons for Separation


Reason for Separation

1/01/64to

6/30/71

7/01/71to

6/30/72 Total

To seek another job 287 24 311

Moved from area 171 14 185

To enter military service 142 3 145

To return to school 137 3 140Transportation problems 69 2 71

Civil or criminal offense 29 0 29Illness or physical disability 177 12 189

Death 15 .2 17

Marriage 34 0 34Pregnant 45 1 46Unable to perform job tasks 260 11 271

Poor adaptive behavior 117 2 119Excessive absences and/or tardy 194 13 207Transfer to another Federal agency 152 9 161

Converted to career-conditionalappointment 116 29 145

Temporary appointment 222 16 238Reduction in force, job abolished,

lack of work 379 34 413Other (didn't like job, hours, etc.) 371 27 398Not recorded or unknown 176 3 179To accept another job

in private industry 167 5 172

TOTAL 3,260 210 3,470

Job Titles

Job Title NumberAir Condit. and Heating Helper

1Aircraft Jet Engine Assembler

1

Anithal Caretaker 10Automotive Equipment Operator 2Bindery Worker 10Building Attendant 7Building Maintenance Worker 1Biological Aid 7Buoy Maintenance Helper

.1

Card Punch Operator 72C- .enter Helper 4Cartographic Aid 6Chauffeur 2Clerk 825Clerk, Cash 4Clerk, Coding 2Clerk, Control 6Clerk, Dictating Transcriber 2Clerk, Examining 2Clerk, File & Mail 241Clerk, Mail 227Clerk, Mail (Motor Veh. Opr.) 8Clerk, Money Counter 4Clerk, Personnel 2Clerk, Publications Supply 14Clerk, Receptionist

1Clerk, Stock 2Clerk, Supply 37Clerk, Typist 108Clerk, Utility 11Clothing & Fabric Worker 5Commissary Stock Handler 30Cook

3Currency Examiner 6Custodial Laborer 877

1

Job Title NumberDishwasher 1

Draftsman 2Electrician Trainee 2Elevator Operator 12Engineering Aid 2Farm Laborer 6Film Library Asst. 1

Finishing Worker 5Fire Control Aid 2Food Service Worker 413Forest Worker 20Fork Lift Operator 1

Fluid System Component Worker 2Flight Data Aid 1

Garageman 2Groceryman 2Ground Maintenance Worker 28Headliner Operator 1

Health Aid 6Helper, Aircraft Engine Mech. 1

Helper, General 9Housekeeping Aid 159Janitor or Cleaner 596Laboratory Worker 26Laborer 792Laundry Wrkr. (all Classif.) 373Library Assistant 7Lithographic Printing Wrkr. 12Mail Handler 316Maintenance Mechanic Hlpr. 2Meat Cutter 3Medical Aid 6Mess Attendant 293Messenger 353Meat Market Attendant 1

Meteorological Technician 1

Multilith Operator 1

lt,

or

lob Title NumberMunition Handler 6Nursery Worker 4Nursing Assistant 16Office Machine Opeiator 192Off-set Press Operator 4Operating Engineer Helper 1Paint Worker 6Pantry Man 1Parts & Equip. Cleaner 7Parts Keeper 1Patient Property Handler 1

Pharmacy Assistant 2Photocopy Operator 4Photographic Processing Aid 9Physical Science Aid 3Plate Maker 1Porter 3Postal Assistant 5Preservation & Packing Wrkr. 5Press Cleaner 10Printing Plant Worker 11Produce Attendant 6Projection Equipment Operator 2Railroad Trackman 2Sales Store Worker 18Sewing Machine Operator 5Spark Plug Worker 1

Stock Handler 7Student Aid 79Substitute Mail Handler 873Small Arms Repairer Helper 3Summer Helper 31Summer Trainee (not Federal

pay classif.) 60Telephone Operator 1

Tractor Operator 1

Truck Driver (Light) 1

Vehicle Maintenance Wrker. 2Ward Attendant 4Warehouseman 20Window Washer 1

WOrkhand 12Working Aid 7Xerox Operator 6X-Ray Film Processor 1

(Not Recorded) 6TOTAL 7,442

r

Appointments by Pay Schedules


Pay Schedule Number

General ScheduleGS-01 1,464GS-02 661GS-03 53

Subtotal 2,178

Wage GradeWG-01WG-02

2,0731,007V-

* WG-03 211WG-04 93WG-05 46

Subtotal 3,430

Postal Service*FPS-01 183F PS-02 248PS-03 248PS-04 1,007PS-05 9

Subtotal 1,695

Ungraded(Student Programs) Subtotal 139

Grand Total 7,442In Interpreting the PS lesvIt, It should be noted that, by law, postal grades were allincreased by one level in January, 1968.

k

Public Policy Employment ProgramsU. S. Civil Service Commissionlloshington, D. C. 10415

asi- ti otea oa l · ca, rimt.71,3376. qtaftivi. 94114,401. 44..1.14 ... manpower sources...

Documents