HOW MARYLAND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY COUNCIL HONORS NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH (NDEAM)! (201 hits)
For Immediate Release From Maryland Developmental Disability Council!
(A Ten-Minute Read)
September 30, 2024
A Proclamation on National Disability Employment Awareness Month, 2024
Presidential Actions
America’s economy is stronger when every American has an opportunity to thrive and contribute meaningfully. During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we honor the incredible contributions of disabled Americans to our country and economy. And we recommit to opening the doors of opportunity wider for people with disabilities, making our Nation more equal, accessible, and fair.
Not too long ago, a person with a disability in America could be denied employment because of their disability. They could even be denied access to public spaces and basic needs like service in a restaurant or a grocery store. One of my early acts as a United States Senator was co-sponsoring the Rehabilitation Act. It was the first time in our Nation’s history that we declared in law what we knew to be true: that Americans with disabilities deserve dignity, respect, and an equal chance at the American Dream. The Rehabilitation Act is one of the most consequential civil rights laws in our Nation’s history, banning discrimination on the basis of disability by any entity the Federal Government funds.
The Rehabilitation Act laid the groundwork for another landmark law: the Americans with Disabilities Act. I was enormously proud to co-sponsor that bill and remain even prouder of its lasting legacy today. For more than 61 million Americans living with a disability, these laws are a source of opportunity, meaningful inclusion, participation, respect, and -‑ as my dad would say — dignity. And in the Obama-Biden Administration, we built on the lasting legacy of these laws by setting hiring goals in Federal contracts for people with disabilities, which we have upheld and continued to pursue in the Biden-Harris Administration.
My Administration is committed to ensuring people with disabilities have access to good jobs. In my first few months in office, I signed an Executive Order establishing a Government-wide commitment to advancing equality and equity in Federal employment, including for people with disabilities. It brought together the Department of Labor, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Office of Personnel Management to ensure that Federal workplaces are fully accessible to people with disabilities so that the dignity and rights of disabled Americans are lifted in every policy we pursue. That includes making sure our Nation’s largest employer — the Federal Government — is the model for fair, accessible, and decent practices in the workplace. This Executive Order directs agencies to address the challenges faced by job applicants and employees with disabilities.
Additionally, the General Services Administration adopted the United States Access Board’s new guidelines to ensure people with disabilities have access to the over 300,000 Federal Government buildings. Furthermore, my Administration ended the use of unfair subminimum wages in Federal contracts — no longer will employers be permitted to pay workers with disabilities less than minimum wage through the AbilityOne Federal contracting program. And the Department of Labor has launched a comprehensive review of the subminimum wage program. We are working to increase hiring for people with disabilities in every sector — from helping State and local governments, businesses, and nonprofits access Federal funds to hire more disabled Americans to appointing people with disabilities to positions in my Administration.
My Administration is also strengthening our Nation’s infrastructure and making it more accessible so that people with disabilities have no problems commuting to work or other places. My Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes the biggest investment ever — $1.75 billion — to expand accessibility in transit and rail stations. It also includes $65 billion to expand access to high-speed internet so more disabled Americans can work, study, and stay connected from home. Further, the Department of Justice finalized standards for State and local governments to make their internet content and mobile apps more accessible so that digital workplaces are accessible to disabled Americans.
During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we celebrate the talent, impact, and legacy of people with disabilities across our Nation by working to make our country stronger, more prosperous, and more just. And we recommit to ensuring people with disabilities have every opportunity to pursue the American Dream.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2024 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month. I urge all Americans to embrace the talents and skills of workers with disabilities and to promote the right to equal employment opportunity for all.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.
JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.
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NDEAM 2024
Observed each October, during National Disability Employment Awareness Month, or “NDEAM,” we celebrate the value and talent workers with disabilities add to America’s workplaces and economy. NDEAM’s purpose is to confirm our commitment to ensuring disabled workers have access to good jobs, every month of every year. That’s the spirit behind this year’s official theme: “Access to Good Jobs for All.”
Ideas for Employers and Employees
The workplace is an important part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)
The ideas below are just a few ways employers and their employees can participate, during October and all year long. For additional inspiration, check out Beyond NDEAM: Year-Round Employer Strategies for Advancing Disability Inclusion.
Review policies
NDEAM is an opportune time to review your company's policies to ensure they convey a commitment to an inclusive workplace culture. For assistance in doing so, see Inclusion@Work (in particular the first section, "Lead the Way: Inclusive Business Culture").
Establish an employee resource group
NDEAM is a perfect time to launch a disability Employee Resource Group (ERG). Sometimes referred to as Employee Networks or Affinity Groups, ERGs offer employees an opportunity to connect and receive support from others with similar backgrounds or interests. For more information, see A Toolkit for Establishing and Maintaining Successful Employee Resource Groups. If your company already has a disability ERG, consider using NDEAM to remind employees about it through displays, information tables or other communication channels.
Create a display
NDEAM is a great time to freshen up bulletin boards in break areas or other locations that employees frequent by posting positive messages about your company's commitment to a disability-inclusive workforce. Start by putting up this year's NDEAM poster (English | Spanish). Additional display materials include the "What Can YOU Do?" poster series.
Train supervisors
Supervisors are the individuals closest to an organization's workforce. As part of NDEAM, consider conducting training to ensure they understand their role in fostering an inclusive workplace culture. Such training may include a review of relevant policies, including the process for providing reasonable accommodations. One easy way to provide such training is to make use of available "turn-key" training modules and available materials, such as those available from the Campaign for Disability Employment.
Educate employees
It is critical that companies committed to disability inclusion effectively and regularly reinforce that commitment to employees. NDEAM offers an opportunity to do this through disability training or informal educational events such as brown-bag lunch discussions. Several ready-to-use resources can assist in facilitating such activities, such as disability etiquette materials and videos with accompanying discussion guides. Another option is to contact local disability organizations to see if they offer workplace training programs.
Ideas for Educators and Youth Service Professionals
Youth serving professionals are a critical component of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).
Hold a discussion
NDEAM presents an opportune time to discuss the topic of disability employment with students, particularly those at an age when they are considering career options and learning about the world of work. One easy way to do so is to use the "I Can" video and accompanying youth discussion guide" https://www.whatcanyoudocampaign.org/psa-c...
Create a display
NDEAM is a great time to freshen up bulletin boards. Start by putting up this year's NDEAM poster (English | Spanish). A customizable poster (English | Spanish) is also available to highlight an organization’s members. Additional display materials include posters from the Campaign for Disability Employment. Educational supply stores may also offer other materials with positive images featuring people with disabilities in various community and employment settings.
Organize an assembly
Another option is to hold an assembly addressing the topic of disability employment, with content tailored as appropriate for age. Such an assembly might feature guest speakers from local disability service organizations and/or people with disabilities in various professions willing to talk about their jobs, interests and experiences. Related to this, it is important to ensure that any career exploration event, such as a traditional career day (whether held during NDEAM or any other time of year), includes people with disabilities.
Implement "soft skills" training
Interpersonal skills, such as teamwork, decision-making and communications, are critical for success in all occupations and industries. Yet, many youth do not have exposure to training focused on such "soft" skills prior to entering the workforce. During NDEAM or anytime, you can address this gap with Skills to Pay the Bills: Mastering Soft Skills for Workplace Success, a series of interactive, hands-on activities to help youth prepare for employment, regardless of their interests or intended career paths. Although developed by ODEP, this curriculum's content is applicable to youth both with and without disabilities and is available in both English and Spanish.
Educate about disability history
Despite the number of people with disabilities in the U.S. and the fact that they represent all races, classes and cultures, many people are unaware of the rich history of the disability movement. To fill this gap, some states require schools to teach about disability history each year. For an overview of major milestones in disability history and resources for educators to enhance awareness of it, see Disability History: An Important Part of America's Heritage.
Engage student leaders
Faculty advisors to groups such as student councils and student-led publications or other media can suggest NDEAM as a possible hook for content during October. For example, a student council might invite a local community leader with a disability to a meeting to speak about their experiences. Likewise, student reporters might interview such an individual or write an article/produce a segment on the contributions of many famous people with disabilities throughout America's history.
