I began working with the DoD in 2014, and have had a variety of government roles and positions since then.

Below is a piece I wrote during my time with the Recruitment Office at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, as their Recruitment Communications Program Manager.

The article was first posted to my LinkedIn on May 21, 2020, and the original piece can be found on here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/making-connection-persons-disabilities-brittany-l-reid/

Making the Connection to Persons with Disabilities

Image from http://clipart-library.com/clipart/multiple-disabilities-cliparts_11.htm

Written by: Brittany L. Reid, Recruitment Communications Program Manager
NGA Talent Acquisition Center

     According to the Washington Post, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the U.S. unemployment rate to jump to 14.7 percent in April—the highest level since the Great Depression. One segment of the U.S. population that has been particularly strained by the damaging ripple effect of the pandemic are those with physical, intellectual, or psychiatric disabilities. Many of these people have had to file for unemployment and, as a result, they are having a rough time affording the prescriptions, treatments, and additional services needed to help them manage their impairments.

     In addition, businesses that once offered readily available services to assist the disabled population have been severely impacted by the pandemic. They have had to endure a reduction of manpower, resources, and drastic modifications to their normal operating procedures. They are having to find the balance of continuing to help those in need without increasing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 by potential community spread.

     In an effort to address these issues, and to help those with disabilities who are currently struggling to make ends meet, NGA’s Talent Acquisition Center hosted the agency’s first ever Virtual Information Session on NGA’s Persons with Disabilities (PWD) program. This program offers non-competitive hiring for eligible individuals with disabilities. The virtual event took place May 6 and attendees learned about NGA’s mission, the opportunities offered by the PWD program, and how people can apply to join so that they can take full advantage of the program’s benefits. 

     Upwards of 70 people attended the session, making it one of the largest virtual events hosted by the agency’s Talent Acquisition Center. One particularly hot topic was how the NGA’s Office of Diversity Management and Equal Employment Opportunity provides Reasonable Accommodations so that employees are not hindered by their impairments as they work to propel the agency forward in executing its mission.

     One member of the NGA Talent Acquisition Team who took part in the event was Andrew Coffron, NGA Virtual Recruiter.

     “May 6th was an excellent event to showcase the PWD program as an excellent opportunity for people with disabilities to have a dedicated point of contact to help navigate our Federal hiring process,” said Coffron. “Increasing our presence in the PWD community shows that we value diversity in all cultures, and that we see it as an asset.”

     I was fortunate enough to attend the event as well. What I enjoyed most, was the enthusiastic level of engagement from the participants. It was rewarding to see so many people who were interested in learning more about NGA and the services it offers to support the disabled members of its workforce. This successful event allowed NGA to provide a beacon of hope, and give guidance to people who are searching for a way to maneuver around the jarring impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

     NGA is the leading global provider of Geospatial-Intelligence or GEOINT. It is DoD and combat-support agency that serves as an Employer of Choice, and seeks to recruit diverse, agile, and quality candidates across all experience levels. To find out more about efforts to strengthen diversity and inclusion within NGA, or to search for potential job opportunities, visit www.intelligencecareers.gov/nga.

     To learn more about NGA’s PWD program, please email Pwdreferrals@nga.mil. Additional questions can be sent to Recruitment@nga.mil.

     Additional information about disability employment can be found at, https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/disability-employment/faqs/.