Every October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) offers an opportunity to celebrate the many contributions of America's workers with disabilities. The theme for 2017 is "Inclusion Drives Innovation."
Visit ACL's NDEAM 2017 webpage.
The Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy has a variety of resources to help you be a part of NDEAM, including:
- A 31 days of NDEAM slide show full of event ideas
- Sample proclamation, press release, and social media content
- Activity ideas for employees and employers, educators and youth-serving professionals, and disability organizations.
In the White House's National Disability Employment Awareness Month proclamation, President Donald Trump noted that "many Americans with disabilities struggle to find employment opportunities, despite the wealth of skills they have to offer" and called on employers to "recognize the fresh perspectives and skills these men and women can add to an innovation-focused workforce."
All month, ACL will be sharing disability employment stories, research, and best practices. We'll send updates via e-mail, but you can follow us on Facebook and Twitter, or check our NDEAM 2017 page to get the information faster.
To kick off the month, we've compiled a list of disability employment resources from ACL and our grantees and partners.
Resources for People with Disabilities and their Families and Friends
- Centers for Independent Living are consumer-controlled, community-based, cross-disability, nonprofit agencies that provide an array of independent living services, including services that can help with employment.
- ACL-funded state assistive technology programs provide information on tools and services that can help a person with a disability perform activities that might otherwise be difficult, whether at home or in the workplace.
- The Job Accommodation Network is an ODEP-funded technical assistance center providing free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities.
Resources for Employers
- Funded by NIDILRR, the ADA National Network provides information, guidance and training on how to implement the Americans with Disabilities Act. Browse resources for employers or call 800-949-4232.
- ODEP's Resources for Employers page provides tools to help effectively recruit, retain, and advance people with disabilities.
- The Campaign for Disability Employment is a collaborative effort to promote positive employment outcomes for people with disabilities by encouraging employers and others to recognize the value and talent they bring to the workplace.
- NIDILRR's Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Employer Practices Related to Employment Outcomes Among Individuals with Disabilities looked at the literature and surveyed human resources professionals on the effect of inclusive human resources and practices.
- The California Employment Consortium for Youth and Young Adults with Intellectual and Other Developmental Disabilities (CECY) has posted several videos that illustrate how employers are successfully integrating and supporting employees with intellectual and developmental disabilities. CECY is one of 14 Partnerships in Integrated Employment (PIE) grants being funded by ACL's Administration for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
Resources for States, Policymakers, and Nonprofits
- ACL Profiles in Integrated Employment highlights stories and best practices from agencies and states leading the way towards integrated employment for people with disabilities. Read tips for employment service providers transitioning to an integrated employment model.
- Find out how Medicaid Buy-In is opening the door to employment for people with disabilities.
- The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth) assists state and local workforce development systems to better serve all youth, including youth with disabilities.