NDEAM 2019: A Time for Celebration and Action

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), an annual opportunity to honor and recognize the contributions workers with disabilities make to America’s workplaces and economy. This year's theme is “The Right Talent, Right Now.”

NDEAM is a time for celebration but it is also a time for action. When it comes to building a workplace inclusive of the skills and talents of people with disabilities, not all employers know where to start. The key lies in fostering a disability-inclusive culture.

To help employers take the first steps, the ODEP-funded Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) offers a Primer on Disability Inclusion. In addition to basics and background, this resource outlines key strategies employers can take across seven operational areas, based on an employer framework called Inclusion@Work.

America’s workers also have an important role to play in fostering disability-inclusive workplaces. Employees and employee groups can use NDEAM to spark conversation with each other and employers about the value of disability-inclusive workplaces to individuals and businesses alike. ODEP’s Campaign for Disability Employment offers a variety of resources to help, including videos and discussion guides.

Employers and employees also are encouraged to plan NDEAM events in their workplaces and communities. Visit ODEP’s NDEAM webpage for ideas, inspiration and to order this year’s official poster.