Today marks the beginning of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) in the US. Every year in October, NDEAM celebrates the contributions of workers with disabilities and educates about the value of an inclusive workforce.
“National Disability Employment Awareness Month is a time to celebrate the contributions of Americans with disabilities to our country’s workforce and economic strength,” declared President Donald J. Trump in his NDEAM proclamation. “By supporting the aspirations of all Americans who want to work, we will strengthen our workplaces, economy, and communities.”
NDEAM’s history can be traced back to 1945, when Congress declared the first week of October as ‘National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week’. In 1962, the word ‘physically’ was deleted to acknowledge the needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. Then in 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to what it is today. The US Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) assumed responsibility for NDEAM in 2001 and has worked to expand its reach and scope ever since.
RIGHT TALENT, RIGHT NOW
The 2019 NDEAM theme is “Right talent, right now”, emphasising the essential role that people with disabilities play in America’s economic success, especially in an era with historically low unemployment and global competition.
“Today more than ever, there is a race for talent. Historically low unemployment and global competition are converging to create a high demand for workers,” commented US Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia. “Smart businesses are navigating this by tapping into more talent pools, including people with disabilities, who offer not just needed skills, but also creative ways of thinking about how to solve problems and achieve business success.”
The US government has initiated a series of coast-to-coast events and activities to honour the contributions that workers with disabilities make to America’s workplaces and economy, throughout the month of October 2019. For more information, visit the US Department of Labor’s website.
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