DHRM led the initiative to increase representation of Individuals with Disabilities within the state workforce. Over the past five years, representation has increased from less than 1% to approximately 4% of Executive Branch employees. Representation does vary significantly across agencies, with many reflecting representation results for fiscal year 2023 closer to 10%.

This improvement, in part, can be attributed to the requirement of an annual Statement of Commitment signed by each Executive Branch Agency Head and a comprehensive strategy, which includes communication, education and awareness, compliance and retention. In addition, DHRM partnered with DARS to establish a full-time liaison position embedded within DHRM to focus solely on the employment of individuals with disabilities within state agencies. This type of collaborative role is unique within Commonwealth agencies.

DHRM formed an Agency workgroup to develop and implement the Alternative Hiring Process in April 2022. Advocates of the disability community served as the Advisory Workgroup in the design and development of the process. In addition to the process, DHRM focused on improved data collection using the Voluntary Disability Self-Identification form and implementation of the Cardinal HCM self-service functionality to all agencies, which enabled individuals to use self-service to identify their status as an employee with a disability.

Although the pandemic and subsequent 2020 hiring freeze may have had an impact on the Commonwealth’s progress toward achieving the established five-year goal, the Commonwealth has made progress in its recruitment and retention efforts.