October 9, 2019

DCAS Outreach Focuses on Career Opportunities for People with Disabilities

Events Will Educate People with Disabilities About Jobs in City Government, Getting Hired Without Taking a Civil Service Exam

NEW YORK – NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) Commissioner Lisette Camilo today announced a series of events DCAS will participate in to help people with disabilities access careers in City government. In its capacity recruiting New Yorkers for careers with the City, DCAS has scheduled eleven fall recruitment events geared towards people with disabilities. The events will include presentations about employment with the City, opportunities to learn about available positions, and discussion about a program that allows qualified people with disabilities to be hired without taking a Civil Service exam.

“The City workforce should reflect the talents and abilities of all New Yorkers,” said Lisette Camilo, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services. “These events will connect people with disabilities with career opportunities in City government and help us build a more inclusive workforce.”

“National Disability Employment Awareness Month is a time to appreciate the contributions of people with disabilities in the workforce while bringing awareness to the disproportionate rate of joblessness within the community.” said Victor Calise, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities. “In order to move the needle on this issue action needs to be taken from all sides. Through my office’s signature employment initiative NYC:ATWORK, MOPD has partnered closely with DCAS to increase the number of employees with disabilities admitted through the City’s 55-a program by providing Disability Etiquette and Awareness trainings and holding targeted recruitments. I applaud DCAS’s commitment to inclusion and look forward to our continued longstanding partnership.”

The events, held with community organizations, build upon DCAS’s focus on what is known as the 55-a Program, named for the section of State Civil Service Law that allows a qualified person with disabilities to be hired for certain City jobs without taking a Civil Service exam. Under the program, candidates must:

• Be certified as having a mental or physical disability;
• Be qualified to perform satisfactorily the duties of the position sought, with or without a reasonable accommodation; and
• Meet the minimum education and/or experience for the position sought.

Upcoming events are being sponsored by partner organizations. While these events are reserved for participating organizations, more information on the 55-a Program, Civil Service exams, and careers in City government may be found by visiting nyc.gov/DCAS or by contacting CitywideRecruitment@dcas.nyc.gov.

Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities/NYC: ATWORK
Civil Service 101/55-a Information Session
New York, NY

Tuesday, October 15, 2019
College of Staten Island/Center for Student Accessibility
Civil Service 101 Information Session
Staten Island, NY

Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Fedcap Rehabilitation Services, Inc.
Civil Service 101 Information Session
Bronx, NY

Thursday, October 24, 2019
Queens ACCES-VR NDEAM Mini Job Fair
Queens, NY

Friday, October 25, 2019
Institute for Career Development (ICD)
Civil Service 101 Information Session
New York, NY

Monday, October 28, 2019
Queens College
Civil Service 101 Information Session
Queens, NY

Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities/NYC: ATWORK
Civil Service 101 Information Session
Manhattan, NY

Friday, November 15, 2019
ACCES-VR and The Viscardi Center
Civil Service 101 Information Session
New York, NY

Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Bronx ACCES-VR
Civil Service 101 Information Session
Bronx, New York

Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities/NYC: ATWORK
Civil Service 101 Information Session
Manhattan, NY

Thursday, December 12, 2019
Goodwill Industries of Greater NY and Northern NJ, Inc/Job-Plus
Civil Service 101 Information Session
Bronx, New York

This year alone DCAS has participated in 16 recruitment events geared towards people with disabilities, with 29 new employees being hired by City agencies under the 55-a Program.

About DCAS

The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) provides effective shared services to support the operations of New York City government. Its commitment to equity, effectiveness, and sustainability guides its work with City agencies on recruiting, hiring, and training employees; providing facilities management for 55 public buildings; acquiring, selling, and leasing City property; purchasing more than $1 billion in supplies and equipment each year; and implementing conservation and safety programs throughout the City's facilities and vehicle fleet.