Montgomery approves hiring preferences

The Montgomery County Council voted today to expand hiring preference rules to include individuals with mental and physical disabilities.

Under the measure, a person with a disability who is among the highest-rated candidates in a normal competitive process, would receive “hiring preference” for the initial appointment to a vacant county merit system position. Council member Phil Andrews (D-Rockville/Gaithersburg) was the chief sponsor of the legislation, which is believed to be the first local legislation of its type in the United States.

“By any measure, the unemployment rate of people with disabilities far exceeds the unemployment rate of people without disabilities,” Andrews said. “To help address this, Montgomery County has taken an historic step and sent a strong clear message to people with disabilities: If you can do the job, we want to hire you.”