Presidential Transition and People with Disabilities

Disability Matters with Joyce Bender

Tuesday, January 19, 2020

#AdvocacyMatters

Presidential Transition and People with Disabilities

 

On January 20, 2021, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be sworn in as our 46th President and Vice-President of the United States.

Who will actually run the day-to-day operations of the government for President-Elect Biden happens through the administrative transition process in advance of the actual swearing-in ceremony and through the months ahead. Traditionally, advance planning gives the incoming President time to screen and select individuals who will run the federal agencies. It also gives time for the outgoing administration to brief transition specialists for the incoming President about current projects, issues, trends, and concerns.

This week, the U.S. Senate will begin hearings on President-Elect Biden’s cabinet picks. Today, Senate Committees are focused on the Secretary of Treasury, National Intelligence, Homeland Security, Secretary of State, and Secretary of Defense. On Thursday, January 21, the nomination of Peter Buttigieg to be Secretary of Transportation will be held at 10:00 am.

People with disabilities are more organized this transition year and are actively recruiting talented individuals to serve in the new administration in appointed service and for boards and commissions.

We have the link on our website as well as the Plum Book. It is a book of all the available appointed positions in the federal government.

For talented individuals who cannot relocate to Washington, D.C. to work in a department or agency, service on a board or commission may be an option. There are many boards and commissions that directly impact the lives of people with disabilities with openings that are staggered through the next 4 years.

 

Examples include:

AMTRAK Board of Governors

Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Legal Services Corporation, Board of Directors

National Council on Disability

President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities

Social Security Advisory Board

U.S. Postal Service, Board of Governors

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

The full list of departments, agencies, boards, and commissions are listed here.

#AdvocacyMatters

If you have the skills and experience and want to apply to serve in the new administration or on a board or commission, first, visit https://buildbackbetter.gov/join-us/, then link your information to the 46 Disability Job Opportunity project https://46disabilityjobopportunityproject.com.

 

Links in this segment include:

U.S. Senate Scheduled Hearings

Plum Book 

Biden Harris Transition Application Site

46 Disability Job Opportunity Project