Request an AHP Letter

Information and eligibility requirements for the Alternative Hiring Process Letter can be found here.

1Contact Information

2Disclosures

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Name(Required)

First Last

Are you a current Virginia Government State Employee?(Required)

Are you a current DARS or DBVI client?(Required)

Phone(Required)

Email(Required)

County(Required)

Zip Code(Required)

Comments

Referral for Vocational Rehabilitation Services(Required)

You do not have to be a current participant in Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) to apply for an AHP Letter. However, if you think that you may benefit from services, and wish to be referred to an office that serves your county, your contact information may be shared with a local DARS Division of Rehabilitative Services (DARS) or Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI) office for follow-up. The VR program provides services to assist eligible people with disabilities to prepare for, secure, retain, or regain employment. Would you like to be referred to DARS or DBVI for VR services?

Yes, I would like to be referred to DARS or DBVI for VR services

Voter Registration(Required)

The National Voter Registration Act requires that individuals be given the opportunity to register to vote (or to change their voter registration data) in elections for federal and/or state office when applying for (or receiving) services or assistance from certain other state agencies designated by statute. DARS is a State-designated voter registration agency in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

NOTE: Applying to register to vote or declining to register to vote will not affect the assistance or services that you will be provided by this agency or the status of your employment application, if using the AHP. If you decline to register to vote, this fact will remain confidential. If you do register to vote, the office where your AHP application was submitted will be kept confidential, and it will be used only for voter registration purposes.

If you believe that someone has interfered with your right to register or to decline to register to vote, your right to privacy in deciding whether to register or in applying to register to vote, you may file a complaint with:

Commissioner, Virginia Department of Elections, Washington Building, 1100 Bank Street,
Richmond, VA 23219-3497
1-800-552-9745
info@elections.virginia.gov

If you are not registered to vote where you live now, would you like to apply to register to vote?

Yes

Disclosure Agreement(Required)

Eligibility Criteria
An applicant with a disability as defined in Code of Virginia 51.5-40.1 and who has an approved AHP Letter provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS) or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI) is eligible for participation in the Alternative Hiring Process (AHP).

Confidentiality
All documentation/records reviewed for the AHP Letter will be kept secure and confidential. The AHP Letter will not disclose the disability/diagnosis. It will only note that the applicant meets the criteria for participation in the Alternative Hiring Process in accordance with the Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) guidelines.

AHP Letter Application Processing
DARS/DBVI strives to process the requested AHP Letters as expeditiously as possible but encourages interested AHP participants to apply for an AHP Letter well in advance of any potential job vacancy opening and closing dates. Failure to timely obtain an AHP Letter does not constitute grounds for consideration of a state job application not submitted prior to the job closing date.

Alternative Hiring Process
DARS/DBVI does not administer the AHP. State job applicants must designate their interest in being considered through the AHP on the state job application and submit a copy of their AHP Letter with the application. Any specific questions about the AHP should be directed to DHRM or the specific Agency HR/Hiring Manager.

Data Sharing
According to the Code of Virginia 2.2-1213, DHRM administers the AHP and must submit required reports on the status of the AHP. The report must include the total number of persons with a disability who (1) sought state employment through the AHP, (2) are currently employed through the AHP, and (3) transitioned from a wage position through the AHP to a classified position. Applicants who submitted an AHP Letter shall be considered as voluntarily self-disclosing they have a disability for purposes of reporting.

By checking this box, I acknowledge that I have fully read and understood this application and disclosures.

If you decline to check this box, we cannot process your AHP Letter Request at this time. If you have questions, please contact Sandra.Phipps@dars.virginia.gov.