Is it okay to query job rejection under disability scheme

[DCapplicant]

apologies posting here for traffic.
I have ASD and applied to a junior role with a public sector regulatory body who is part of the disability confident scheme. Not civil service.
This is their words from job ad:

“Minimum
We are a signatory to the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. This means that we will offer an interview to disabled candidates entering under the scheme, who best meet the minimum criteria for a role.

• Prior experience of payments, financial services or policy making
• Prior experience in a role which has involved teamwork and collaboration with others.”

I applied under the scheme (ticked box on their form) as someone who has experience in all of the above criteria, mentioned on my CV / application.

I also exceeded the minimum criteria for applying under the disability confident scheme and met the more general criteria too.
Don’t want to out myself but I work within Payments for a central bank which operates very similarly to the company hiring who rejected me. I can’t think of a more similar company than my own to this company I got rejected from.

Usually I would never query a job rejection from the first stage even if I meet all requirements but it’s only as I applied under the disability confident scheme and work for such a similar company, with similar background.

Even if it’s a case of them getting swamped with applicants, I can’t imagine that many others were applying under the disability confident scheme who also had such a similar background.

I have also applied twice previously to this company under their disability confident scheme and was rejected then too (similar story of meeting minimum requirements but not getting past first stage), but at those times I just thought never mind, better luck next time.

Now being rejected three times in a row when applying under disability confident scheme is really gutting. What else can I do? I don’t understand when I’ve met the min requirements and shown on my CV.
Sounds bit crazy but can I query what they’re looking for as their job ads all have a HR contact email.

I have also had my CV checked by professionals in my industry, the same CV has had me shortlisted for other roles in this industry when I met less of the requirements.

I think you should question it. Possibly it’s been missed, possibly numbers were high, possibly you didn’t represent yourself in such a way that it was obvious you met the minimum. Whichever of those apply, it would be useful info for you.

But I also think you need to move away from the assumption that you’d be a great fit because it’s so similar to your current employer. It’s not unknown for managers to think applicants from closely related organisations are too close. Just concentrate on your transferable skills and experience.

The disability confident scheme kicks in if you meet the minimum passmark but aren't in the top scorers they would otherwise select for interview

So in civil service passmark is 4
If there are tonnes of good applications I might raise the pass mark to 6 for interview in order to only interview a realistic number of people
But I also have to interview anyone who applies under disability confident and scored 4 or above

Crucially It's the employer who decides whether you meet the minimum criteria, not you. I suspect that's where you're falling down.

There's a scheme specifically for asd.

The disability scheme is specifically for people out of work or people who need support or changes to access work. Completely different scheme & sector & I know nothing about the public sector scheme - I just thought it was worth checking eligibility but yes if it is for anyone with any disability then absolutely everything should be included eg dyslexia, asd, mental health, long term illness etc.

Disability Confident isn’t a public sector scheme, though. I’m surprised someone’s chosen to set up their own scheme rather than just use that one, but if it works for your organisation that’s the main thing!