DETAC Joins Broad Effort to Observe National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Nationwide campaign takes place each October
October 2024 — The Administration on Disabilities (AoD) Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center (DETAC) joins the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy in recognizing National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), an annual awareness campaign that takes place each October. The purpose of NDEAM is to spread awareness about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. This year’s theme is “Access to Good Jobs for All.”
The history of NDEAM traces back to 1945, when it started as a week and focused only on people with physical disabilities. Later, it expanded to a full month, and its name and scope evolved to acknowledge the importance of increasing the workforce inclusion of people with all nature of disabilities.
“Our communities and economy are strengthened by the inclusion of all people, including people with disabilities,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Taryn M. Williams. “Their contributions have historically been vital to our nation’s success and are more important today than ever. We must build an accessible, equitable economy that fully includes the talent and drive of those with disabilities.”
Reflecting this year’s theme and in alignment with DETAC’s mission to advance competitive, integrated employment (CIE) and economic outcomes for people with disabilities, DETAC is highlighting resources and events addressing important topics in disability employment all month long on our website (https://aoddisabilityemploymenttacenter.com/) and social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn).
On October 3, DETAC released a new podcast with certified rehabilitation counselor, self-advocate, and former Center for Independent Living (CIL) employee, Samantha Moreno, Debunking Myths About Working and the Loss of Benefits.
On October 8, DETAC’s National Community of Practice webinar, The Role of American Job Centers (AJCs) in Promoting Access to Good Jobs for All, features DETAC Senior Advisor, Amy Gonzalez, and four representatives from AJCs in Colorado and New York who will discuss how AJCs and their partners provide access and opportunities to all job seekers, including people with disabilities to prepare for, obtain, retain, and advance in high-quality jobs.
Subscribe to the DETAC National Community of Practice listserv to receive emails about upcoming events and new resources, including the #NDEAM edition of the DETAC newsletter later this month http://eepurl.com/hq0D2H. Then, connect with us on social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn).
Learn more about how to participate in NDEAM and ways to promote key messages about disability employment during October (and all year!) by visiting https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/initiatives/ndeam.
Then visit the Administration for Community Living (ACL) NDEAM webpage to learn more about ACL’s commitment to expanding employment opportunities and community inclusion for people with disabilities https://acl.gov/news-and-events/events-and-observances/NDEAM.
