Learn about what NDEAM is and how you and others can celebrate it this month.
This October, we are celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)! According to the New York Education Department, Congress recognized the first week of October as National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week in 1945. Later, in 1962, the word physically was removed from the name to include people with all types of disabilities. 1988, the name was changed again to NDEAM and became a month-long observance.
We wanted to highlight great resources to learn more about NDEAM. One of them is the NDEAM page, where you can learn more about how the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), a federal agency, is working toward increasing workplace success for people with disabilities. Another is a presentation created by St. Kate’s Career Development in collaboration with Student Accessibilities and Accommodations to help you understand what to consider when navigating careers with accommodations.
ODEP has chosen “Access to Good Jobs for All” as its theme for this year in recognition of one of its purposes: to make certain that people with disabilities have access to good occupations. The webpage offers a video explaining the importance of raising awareness in companies and increasing the inclusion of workers with disabilities.
ODEP also gives a list of things companies and organizations can do to observe the month, such as reviewing policies to see if policies are inclusive toward people with disabilities, creating employee resource groups, posting articles or social media, training and educating employees on disability awareness, including putting up awareness posters for NDEAM that are customizable and available for download. The site also gives examples of what government agencies, unions, educational institutions, and policymakers can do to celebrate NDEAM.
NDEAM website
The second resource is a slideshow highlighting the importance of “understanding accommodations,” “advocating for your needs,” and “doing your research to determine if a company values inclusivity.” It’s important to consider both what the company is telling you about what they value and what others have said. Looking at the company’s mission statement or job description is your first introduction that may clue you into how inclusive an organization intends to be. You can also check what others have said, such as news articles, recognitions, or awards they’ve received for inclusive workplace practices. You can review what past employees have said by looking the company up on sites like Glassdoor or by conducting an information interview with a current or past employee. This can help you learn more about what it’s actually like to work at the company or field, etc.
Canva Presentation
Another way of learning how your workplace can accommodate your needs is by using the Job Accommodation Network (JAN), which is a program within ODEP that offers free services on how employers can accommodate workers and employees with disabilities. If employers need help accessing resources, some events are available through webcasts, articles, and live chat.
JAN Website
For more tips on advocating for accessibility in the workplace and more information on NDEAM, check out these resources: Canva presentation and NDEAM webpage.
Edited by Jocelyn Zambrano
