October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This national campaign raises awareness regarding disability employment issues while celebrating the varied contributions of American workers with disabilities.
“This year’s theme, “Expect. Employ. Empower.,” reminds us that every American has a right to dignity, respect, and a fair shot at success in the workplace. For too long, workers with disabilities were measured by what people thought they could not do, depriving our Nation and economy of the full talents and contributions of millions of Americans. Nearly 25 years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act codified the promise of an equal opportunity for everyone who worked hard, and in the years since, Americans with disabilities have reached extraordinary heights. But when employees with disabilities are passed over in the workplace or denied fair accommodations, it limits their potential and threatens our democracy; when disproportionate numbers of Americans with disabilities remain unemployed, more work must be done to achieve the spirit of what is one of the most comprehensive civil rights bills in the history of our country,” President Obama stated in a recent Presidential Proclamation.
For more information about National Disability Employment Awareness Month, visit the Office of Disability Employment Policy’s website.
