 Save the date for National Disability Employment Awareness Month webinars
Date: Sept. 23, 2026
From: Allison Enriquez, Statewide Employment First Coordinator
To: People who get, manage or provide employment services through the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS) and Vocational Rehabilitation (VR); Employment First partners
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a time to recognize the contributions people with disabilities bring to Oregon’s workplaces and economy. It’s also a time to recognize businesses with supportive workplace policies and practices for people with disabilities.
“Celebrating value and talent” is the theme of the 2026 national campaign, led by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. In Oregon, we see this theme play out every month of the year in the countless ways people with disabilities bring value to their jobs and communities.
In recognition of NDEAM, Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Oregon Commission for the Blind (OCB) and Oregon Department of Education (ODE) have organized a webinar series to educate the community about disability employment services and celebrate the many workplace successes.
Please share this invitation and our event flyer with your networks. There will also be shareable posts on the Employment First and ODHS Facebook pages and on the ODHS LinkedIn page.
Webinar schedule
A special NDEAM webinar for business is scheduled for Oct. 6 from noon to 1 p.m. For details, read the Sept. 9 invitation to the business session.
All other webinars will be Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on zoom.
- Captioning, American Sign Language interpretation and Spanish interpretation will be provided.
- For questions about accessibility, or to request an accommodation or language interpretation, email first@odhs.oregon.gov. Requests should be made at least five business days before the events.
October 13
Oregon as a Model Employer: Promoting employment and career advancement for people with disabilities in state and local government
Presented by: Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities; ODHS Human Resources team
This session covers a few of Oregon's strategies for improving hiring and advancing employees with disabilities in public sector workplaces. The work builds on the Model Employer Toolkit from the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities and supports Senate Bill 810 and Oregon's Employment First Strategic Plan, which name state government hiring of people with disabilities as a priority.
ODHS Human Resources professionals will also share about the Inclusive Hiring Advocates program.
The session will also look at next steps.
Register for the Oct. 13 session.
October 20
What is ableism and why it matters in the workplace
Presented by: Todd D. Woodward, Vice Chair of the Oregon Disabilities Commission
This session explores what ableism is and the many forms it takes, trace its historical roots, and examine how it shows up in employment today. Come prepared to reflect on two questions about your own workplace: What are you already doing well? What could you do better?
Register for the Oct. 20 session.
October 27
Technology in employment
Presented by: VR, OCB, and ODDS
Learn about the latest in assistive technology and artificial intelligence and how it can support people with disabilities to be successfully employed.
Register for the Oct. 27 session.
November 3
Peer2Peer: An award-winning employment mentorship program for students with disabilities
Presented by: ODE and ODDS
In Peer2Peer, students with disabilities mentor peers in a community work experience. Join the session to hear from mentors, mentees, and employers about how this model sets students up for success in their future careers.
Register for the Nov. 3 session.
More ways to promote and support NDEAM
For ideas about how your organization can support NDEAM, visit the Department of Labor’s NDEAM web page. However you choose to take part, you’ll be playing an important role in fostering a workplace where every person is recognized for their abilities — every day of every month.
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