Stanley: Pentagon must do better in hiring disabled
Posted 12/8/2010
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by Terri Moon Cronk
American Forces Press Service
12/8/2010 - BETHESDA, Md. (AFNS) -- Defense Department officials are doing a "pretty good" job at hiring talented, disabled people for their civilian work force, but they needs to do much better, the Pentagon's top personnel official said Dec. 8 here during his keynote remarks at the 30th annual Disability Awards Ceremony and Forum.
"I am somewhat routinely frustrated by a bureaucracy that coins terms like, 'hiring reform,' to get people into the system faster," said Clifford L. Stanley, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness. "I don't even want to tell you what our percentage is of disabled employees at the Defense Department, because I'm not too happy about it.
"We need to do a better job of finding people," Mr. Stanley said, noting that he goes to sleep "each night thinking about how I can make this day better" in the hiring of disabled civilians and former servicemembers.
Mr. Stanley partly blames a bureaucratic system that he believes "doesn't want to move the way you think it should move.
"It shouldn't take as long as it does to hire people," he said, noting that talent "is not a function of eyesight, walking, hands and arms."
The undersecretary told the audience he wanted to "plant that seed," as he introduced Army Capt. Ivan Castro, an active-duty Soldier who is blind.
Captain Castro told the audience his story of serving near Baghdad in September 2006 when he had just released two of his men from an observation post. Minutes later, mortars landed near him.
Captain Castro's injuries were myriad and severe, he said, and in the end, the doctors couldn't save his eyesight.
The wounded warrior said he set out on a mission to stop feeling sorry for himself and to learn to walk again and live independently. After intensive physical and occupational therapies, Captain Castro said, he developed many everyday skills, including how to use a computer and send e-mail.
"Because technology changes all the time, I consider myself a work in progress," he said.
Captain Castro also developed his physical skills, logging four Army 10-milers, five half-marathons, 13 marathons and several other running, biking and hiking feats.
But the best was yet to come.
Captain Castro connected with the Computer/Electronics Accommodations Program, a federal initiative that equips disabled federal employees and servicemembers -- with disabilities ranging from dexterity issues to cognitive difficulties, vision loss, and hearing impairments -- to perform tasks. CAP uses assistive technology devices, equipment and training to help them recover and transition into employment.
Captain Castro was able to return to active duty with the Army.
"Thanks to a change in military culture and mindset," he said, "some of us (disabled servicemembers) have been able to (survive) life-threatening injuries and deploy back into combat" or serve in other military assignments.
"We are honoring, today, our disabled (employees), but there's more to it than just that," Stanley said. "My wife reminds me every day that I'm temporarily able. It doesn't take much . . . . for circumstances (to change and) find you in a way you didn't anticipate."
Department officials awarded 19 disabled civilians and servicemembers with disabilities for their outstanding service, and four agencies for their commitment to further equality to individuals with mental and physical disabilities.
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