Disability.gov: Countdown to the Anniversary of the ADA: Day 56 - National Disability Employment Awareness Month Theme

Image via Wikipedia

By Carol A. Dunlap, Business Development Specialist, Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor

Every October, federal, state and local government agencies; nonprofit organizations; and individuals across the country celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). However, for many of you, this may be the first time you are hearing about NDEAM. NDEAM has been around for a while, but the name has changed just about every 20 years or so since it begun.

In 1945, Congress responded to President Harry Truman’s deep concern about wounded warriors returning from World War II by passing a Resolution to establish the first week in October as National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week. It was his hope that the week-long celebration would create more awareness of the possibilities available to employ individuals with disabilities. Congress removed the word “physically” from the name in 1962; and it became National Employ the Handicapped Week to more accurately reflect the employment needs of all Americans with disabilities. And, in 1988, the name was changed to National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Each year, NDEAM has a theme associated with individuals with disabilities and their path to finding and retaining employment. Organizations nationwide incorporate the theme into hiring events, proclamations, public awareness events, mentoring opportunities and disability history recognitions that are kicked-off during October and continue year-round. Showcasing the skills and talents of workers with disabilities strengthens public understanding of this often untapped human resource.

The official NDEAM theme for 2010 is “Talent Has No Boundaries: Workforce Diversity INCLUDES Workers with Disabilities.” The theme serves to inform the public that workers with disabilities represent a diverse and vibrant talent pool and emphasizes talent and inclusion.
Communities across the country are eagerly embracing this theme and are planning an array of events and other media opportunities.  Each outreach opportunity helps the public understand the vastness of talent brought to the workplace by people with disabilities plus the many ways employers benefit from their contributions.

Unleash your creativity in using this year’s theme to educate the public on the vast talents workers with disabilities bring to the workplace. In fact, isn’t it time to change the name again and delete the word “Month?”

For More Information
To learn more about National Disability Employment Awareness Month, visit the Web site of the Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy at http://www.dol.gov/odep/programs/ndeam.htm.