National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)
The Governor’s Council on Disability celebrates October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) with this virtual display, providing information and resources to raise awareness about the importance of workplace inclusion of people with disabilities.
Please join us by recognizing the importance of the contributions of people with disabilities to the workforce, and learning about disability history and awareness.
2020 NDEAM Theme: Increasing Access and Opportunity
Background and History of NDEAM:
- National Disability Employment Awareness Month celebrates the ingenuity people with disabilities bring to America's workplaces.” Each October, NDEAM celebrates America's workers with disabilities and reminds employers of the importance of inclusive hiring practices.
- U.S. Department of Labor announces 2020 NDEAM theme – News release
https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/odep/odep20200630 - Disability History: An Important Part of America’s History
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/odep/documents/disability%20history_508%20compliant_links.pdf - Disability & Employment: A Timeline Commemorating 30 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/ada30/timeline
Missouri celebrates NDEAM:
- Governor’s proclamation designating the month of October as Disability Employment Awareness Month in Missouri
- Missouri as a Model Employer initiative
https://disability.mo.gov/model-employer.htm - GCD Poster Contest celebrating NDEAM
https://disability.mo.gov/gcd/PosterContest/index.html
- Educational presentations about disability awareness and employment of people with disabilities. For more information or to schedule a presentation, please contact gcd@oa.mo.gov
- Disability History and Awareness – A Resource Guide for Missouri
https://disability.mo.gov/files/HistoryAwareness.pdf - Providing mentoring opportunities for people with disabilities at annual Missouri Youth Leadership Forum and Regional Leadership Forums
https://disability.mo.gov/gcd/ylf.htm - Disability Awareness and People First Language tips
https://disability.mo.gov/etiquette.htm - Social Media posts to raise awareness about NDEAM and promote inclusion of people with disabilities in the workforce. Follow GCD on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MissouriGCD/ and Twitter at https://twitter.com/MOGCD
- GCD Newsletter, October 2020, highlighting NDEAM
https://disability.mo.gov/gcd/newsletters.htm
Ideas to celebrate NDEAM:
- 31 days of NDEAM – What can you do?
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/initiatives/ndeam/ideas - Ideas for employers and employees
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/initiatives/ndeam/employers
Employment Resources for Missourians with disabilities:
- Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development
- Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant
https://dhewd.mo.gov/initiatives/fasttrackgrant_for_students.php - Missouri Job Centers
https://jobs.mo.gov/ - Missouri Department of Mental Health – Employment Services
https://dmh.mo.gov/dev-disabilities/programs/promoting-employment - Missouri Department of Social Services – Rehab Services for the Blind
https://dss.mo.gov/fsd/rsb/ - Missouri Registered Apprenticeships
https://jobs.mo.gov/content/moapprenticeships - Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
https://dese.mo.gov/adult-learning-rehabilitation-services/vocational-rehabilitation - VR100 Celebrating 100 years of Vocational Rehabilitation 1920 – 2020
https://youtu.be/WB2MAHq5hxY - Missouri SkillUp Program
https://mydss.mo.gov/food-assistance/missouri-employment-training-program
Other Resources:
- Governor’s Council on Disability – https://disability.mo.gov/gcd
- EARN: Employers Assistance and Resource Network – https://askearn.org
- JAN: Job Accommodation Network – https://askjan.org
- Job Accommodation Network – Workplace Accommodation Toolkit - https://askjan.org/toolkit/
- Missouri Assistive Technology – https://at.mo.gov
- Great Plains ADA Center - https://www.gpadacenter.org/
Public Service Announcement Campaigns:
Please visit this website for downloadable versions of the Campaign for Disability Employment’s television PSAs:
- I Can
- Because
- Who I Am
- Working Works