Today’s Political Climate and Deaf Federal Employees – What Next? Khadijat K. Rashid, Ph.D. Gallaudet University Washington DC 20002
Today’s Political Climate • In a word – gridlock • Congress has issues with federal employees • Freezing or cutting pay • Cutting number of Feds • Increasing pension contributions • Etc
Impact on Deaf Federal Employees • # deaf people in government is discouraging – about 0.0023%! • Statistics – high of 5639 in 1997 to current ~4500 • No deaf people in SES • Disproportionate number of college educated deaf in government
Total Perm. Work Force Employees with Targeted Disabilities (PWF) Fiscal Year % Change % Change (FY) Permanent # from Prior # from Prior % of PWF FY FY Employees 1985 2,892,225 2.70% 29,282 8.46% 1.01% 1986 2,894,732 0.09% 30,320 3.54% 1.05% with 1987 2,943,878 1.70% 32,149 6.03% 1.09% Targeted 1988 2,790,287 -5.22% 30,736 -4.40% 1.10% 1989 2,807,546 0.62% 31,956 3.97% 1.14% Disabilities 1990 2,786,143 -0.76% 32,145 0.59% 1.15% 1991 2,772,396 -0.49% 32,950 2.50% 1.19% in the 1992 2,737,331 -1.26% 33,379 1.30% 1.22% Federal 1993 2,656,033 -2.97% 32,989 -1.17% 1.24% 1994 2,616,393 -1.49% 32,337 -1.98% 1.24% Work Force 1995 2,512,776 -3.96% 30,185 -6.65% 1.20% FY 1985 – 1996 2,532,507 0.79% 29,930 -0.84% 1.18% 1997 2,475,761 -2.24% 28,671 -4.21% 1.16% FY 2006 1998 2,479,199 0.14% 28,035 -2.22% 1.14% 1999 2,462,152 -0.69% 27,601 -1.55% 1.13% Source: 2000 2,442,643 -0.79% 27,231 -1.34% 1.12% http://www.eeoc.go 2001 2,445,335 0.11% 26,834 -1.46% 1.10% v/federal/reports/pw 2002 2,459,505 0.58% 26,230 -2.25% 1.07% td.html#SecIIE 2003 2,428,330 -1.27% 25,551 -2.59% 1.05% 2004 2,437,458 0.38% 24,816 -2.87% 1.02% 2005 2,441,287 0.16% 24,086 -2.94% 0.99% 2006 2,432,314 -0.37% 23,490 -2.47% 0.97%
It gets even worse…(most recent #) • How many deaf employees in highest GS-levels? • How many agencies have NO deaf employees? (first link) • How many in SES? (second link) • How does deaf Feds’ average GS employees compare to hearing?
Why these dismal numbers? • Incorrect perception of required investment in assistive devices • Fear of difference • Ease of fudging numbers on disability • Worry about the cost of hiring interpreters on a regular basis
Dismal numbers, continued: • Perception of deaf people – • Difficult and demanding • Communication issues • Lack of needed literacy and numeracy skills • Need more “soft” skills on unwritten office etiquette • Attitude of some deaf people to work
So…do -do? • President Obama’s Executive Order # 13548 of July 26, 2010 “Increasing Federal Employment of Individuals With Disabilities” • Deaf people as a bloc are too small – statistically insignificant. MUST reach out. • Need to build alliances across government – • White House • Senate • House • OPM • EEOC
Potential Alliances within Gov’t • Blacks in Government – www.bignet.org • National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives: www.nahfe.org • Federally Employed women: www.few.org • Federal Globe (Gay, Lesbian and Transgender employees): www.fedglobe.org • And so on…
Potential Alliances Outside Government • NAD • AG Bell • Minority Organizations • Make friends with media • Establish relationships with Gallaudet, NTID, SWCID etc
Other ways to change the future – • Attitudinal issues • Training – SES training during DHHIG sessions • Interpreter issues • Technical issues – reasonable accommodations vs. security, access vs. privacy, etc.
Other ways to change the future – • Attitudinal issues • Training – SES training during DHHIG sessions • Interpreter issues • Technical issues – reasonable accommodations vs. security, access vs. privacy, etc.
Thank you! Questions, comments and discussion?
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