October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Each October, during National Disability Employment Awareness Month, or “NDEAM,” workplaces are encouraged tocelebrate the value and talent workers with disabilities add to America’s workplaces and economy. NDEAM’s purpose is to confirm their commitment to ensuring disabled workers have access to good jobs, every month of every year. That’s the spirit behind this year’s official theme: “Access to Good Jobs for All.”

The workplace is an important part of NDEAM

The ideas below are just a few ways employers and their employees can participate, during October and all year long. For additional inspiration, check out Beyond NDEAM: Year-Round Employer Strategies for Advancing Disability Inclusion.

Review policies

NDEAM is an opportune time to review company policies to ensure they convey a commitment to an inclusive workplace culture.

Establish an employee resource group

NDEAM is a perfect time to launch a disability Employee Resource Group (ERG). Sometimes referred to as Employee Networks or Affinity Groups, ERGs offer employees an opportunity to connect and receive support from others with similar backgrounds or interests. For more information, see A Toolkit for Establishing and Maintaining Successful Employee Resource Groups. If a company already has a disability ERG, consider using NDEAM to remind employees about it through displays, information tables or other communication channels.

Create a display

NDEAM is a great time to freshen up bulletin boards in break areas or other locations that employees frequent by posting positive messages about a company's commitment to a disability-inclusive workforce. Start by putting up this year's NDEAM poster (English | Spanish). Additional display materials include the "What Can YOU Do?" poster series.

Train supervisors

Supervisors are the individuals closest to an organization's workforce. As part of NDEAM, consider conducting training to ensure they understand their role in fostering an inclusive workplace culture. Such training may include a review of relevant policies, including the process for providing reasonable accommodations. One easy way to provide such training is to make use of available "turn-key" training modules and available materials, such as those available from the Campaign for Disability Employment.

Educate employees

It is critical that companies committed to disability inclusion effectively and regularly reinforce that commitment to employees. NDEAM offers an opportunity to do this through disability training or informal educational events such as brown-bag lunch discussions. Several ready-to-use resources can assist in facilitating such activities, such as disability etiquette materials and videos with accompanying discussion guides. Another option is to contact local disability organizations to see if they offer workplace training programs.

Publish articles

NDEAM offers timely and fresh content for an employee newsletter or internal website. Articles could address a range of topics, such as general information about the company's commitment to an inclusive workplace, the process for requesting reasonable accommodations, or perhaps recognizing the contributions of employees with disabilities—either in general or on an individual level. A company's top executive could also issue a message to all employees recognizing NDEAM.

Feature NDEAM in social media activities

Likewise, NDEAM provides an interesting hook for social media platforms, including Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and X. Organizations are encouraged to include the hashtag #NDEAM. Sample key messages are available to assist in incorporating NDEAM into social media activities.

Issue an NDEAM press release

Employers can also issue a press release to local media to announce their involvement in NDEAM. To assist, a "fill-in-the-blank" template is available that organizations can quickly customize and pitch to their local media.

Participate in Disability Mentoring Day

Disability Mentoring Day promotes career development for youth with disabilities through hands-on programs, job shadowing and ongoing mentoring. The nationwide observance is the third Wednesday of each October, but companies may choose to host their own events on any day of the month (or year for that matter). The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) offers information to assist in implementing a Disability Mentoring Day event.

NDEAM encourages employer to celebrate the value and talent of people with disabilities in their workforce.Photo byNDEAM