October 2022

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Held every October, NDEAM is a fitting time to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities.

The 2022 NDEAM theme will be "Disability: Part of the Equity Equation."

Part of the Equity Equation

Launched in 1945 when Congress declared the first week in October as "National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week", NDEAM was renamed in 1998 and extended to a month.

Why is it important?

The annual event draws attention to employment barriers that still need to be addressed, and led by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy. The goal is to foster a more inclusive workforce, one where every person is recognized for his or her abilities—every day of every month.

Disability History - the ADA

A Landmark Moment

On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the Act into law on the White House South Lawn in front of an audience of 3,000 people. On that day, America became the first country to adopt a comprehensive civil rights declaration for people with disabilities.

The purpose

The act was designed to provide universal accessibility in the areas of employment, public service, public accommodations, and telecommunications.

Source: The White House Archives

Census Bureau's surveys data (July 2021)

41.1 million or 12.7%

The total civilian noninstitutionalized population with a disability in the United States in 2019.

7.9 million

The total civilian noninstitutionalized population ages 18 to 64 with a disability who were employed in 2019.

$25,270

Median earnings in the past 12 months (in 2019 inflation-adjusted dollars) of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and over with a disability who had earnings in 2019.

Where did it all start?

Inspired by the civil rights and anti-war movements of the 1960s and the feminist movement of the 1970s, disability leaders joined forces and took action, holding sit-ins in Federal buildings, blocking inaccessible buses from moving, drafting legislation, and protesting in the streets. And like the broader movements that preceded it, the disability rights movement had its own heroes and champions: Ed Roberts, Gini Laurie and Justin Dart to name a few.

Edward Verne Roberts was an American activist. He was the first student who relied on a wheelchair to attend the University of California, Berkeley. He was a pioneering leader of the disability rights movement.

Virginia Grace Wilson "Gini" Laurie was a central figure in the 20th century development of the independent living movement for people with disabilities. Often considered its "grandmother", she was in charge of vocational rehabilitation at the national level from 1950 to 1970.

Justin Whitlock Dart Jr. was an American activist and advocate for people with disabilities. He helped to pass the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, co-founded the American Association of People with Disabilities, and is regarded as the "Godfather of the ADA".

What can YOU do?

The Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) is all about repeating one message far and wide:

Every day, people with disabilities can and do make important contributions to America's businesses. They have the drive to succeed in employment, and the skills and talent they need to deliver value and results for their employers.

Several resources are posted on their website and can help YOU learn more and celebrate NDEAM.

The website contains several PSA campaigns you can download and post at your workplace. Some examples below.

Documents

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Upcoming Events @Cultural Corner

Join us for a cultural immersion in the theme of the month!

October XX | 5:00 pm

Building an Inclusive Workforce Workshop

Kellogg Table/Virtual

xxxxx

September XX | 12:00pm

Dia de los Muertos activity

Kellogg Table

xxxx

Other Important Dates

in October 2022

4 to 5

Yom Kippur

16 to 18

Shemini Atzeret

24

Diwali

9 to 16

Sukkot

17 to 18

Simchat Torah

31 to Nov 1

Samhain

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