One of the best things about living in Colorado is being able to experience seasons, especially the fall. I love photographing the changing leaves of Aspen trees in Cripple Creek, the crisp cool weather on the way to work in the morning and the sweet smell of pumpkin spice everywhere. October is one of my favorite months of the year.
October is also National Disability Employment Awareness Month, or NDEAM for short. Every October, the contributions of people with disabilities in America’s workplaces and economy are celebrated. This year’s theme is “America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion” and it highlights the importance of making sure that people with disabilities have full access to employment and community involvement, especially in the time of COVID-19.
As a part of a disability-related organization, it is important that we lead in celebrating disability awareness in our community. Some ideas to support the community’s celebration of NDEAM may include:
- Promoting awareness on social media networks (featuring NDEAM in posts that include posters, hashtags, links, etc.).
- Hosting a seminar or panel presentation (safely) for local employers on the topic of disability employment and benefits of a disability-inclusive workplace.
- Training supervisors and employees to ensure that all are fostering an inclusive workplace culture.
- Educating about disability history.
- Participate in Disability Mentoring Day (third Wednesday in October), which fosters career development for youth with disabilities through hands-on programs, job shadowing, and ongoing mentoring.
No matter what you decide to do, remember that you CAN do a lot for disability employment. To learn more about additional ideas, visit the Office of Disability Employment Policy’s (ODEP) website.
Share the #NDEAM Official 2021 poster.
2021 NDEAM Poster English