NDEAM

Access to Good Jobs for All
2024 NDEAM poster shows a road leading to round photos of diverse disabled workers in various workplaces. Says “Access to Good Jobs for All, National Disability Employment Awareness Month,

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

October 2024 

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and everyone is encouraged to participate. The purpose of National Disability Employment Awareness Month is to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities.

Held annually, National Disability Employment Awareness Month is led by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, but its true spirit lies in the many observances held at the grassroots level across the nation every year. Employers of all sizes and in all industries are encouraged to participate in NDEAM.

For specific ideas about how you can support National Disability Employment Awareness Month, visit www.dol.gov/NDEAM. Suggestions range from simple, such as putting up a poster, to comprehensive, such as implementing a disability education program. Regardless, all play an important part in fostering a more inclusive workforce, one where every person is recognized for his or her abilities — every day of every month.

 

DSB Joins Broad Effort to Observe National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Nationwide campaign will take place in October

(Seattle, WA) — August 1, 2024 — Washington State Department of Services for the Blind (DSB) today announced it is joining the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy in recognizing National Disability Employment Awareness Month, an annual awareness campaign that takes place each October. The purpose of National Disability Employment Awareness Month is to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. This year's theme is "Access to Good Jobs for All."

The history of NDEAM traces back to 1945, when it started as a week and focused only on people with physical disabilities. Later, it expanded to a full month, and its name and scope evolved to acknowledge the importance of increasing the workforce inclusion of people with all nature of disabilities.

“Our communities and economy are strengthened by the inclusion of all people, including people with disabilities,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Taryn M. Williams. “Their contributions have historically been vital to our nation’s success and are more important today than ever. We must build an accessible, equitable economy that fully includes the talent and drive of those with disabilities.”

Reflecting this year's theme, throughout the month, DSB will be engaging in a variety of activities to educate the community on disability employment issues and its commitment to an inclusive work culture. These efforts include the statewide Community Forum; and numerous White Cane Safety Day events across the state to emphasize the importance of the cane in helping people who are blind, low vision, or deaf blind pursue their careers. 

“We look forward to celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month every year,” says Lisa Wheeler, Assistant Director of Vocational Rehabilitation and Workforce at DSB. “It’s a time when we spotlight the significant impact and role people with visual disabilities have when employed in contributing to an equitable and dynamic workforce. Employment offers people with disabilities not only the opportunity to gain independence and advancement, but the dignity and esteem we all deserve for a prosperous life.” 

Employers and employees in all industries can learn more about how to participate in National Disability Employment Awareness Month and ways they can promote its messages — during October and throughout the year — by visiting www.dol.gov/NDEAM. 

Return to top

 

 

Governor's National Disability Employment Awareness Proclamation.

Governor Inslee's National Disability Employment Awareness Month Proclamation

On September 27, 2024, Governor Jay Inslee officially proclaimed October 2024 to be National Disability Employment Awareness Month in the State of Washington and encouraged all Washingtonians to recognize "the value and talent that people with disabilities add to our workplaces and communities."

Proclamation 

WHEREAS, October 2024 marks the 79th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM); and

WHEREAS, the theme for NDEAM 2024, "Access to Good Jobs for All," reflects Washington's commitment to expanding employment opportunities for people with disabilities and the quality of those opportunities; and

WHEREAS, workplaces that welcome the talents of all people, including people with disabilities, are a critical part of our efforts to build an inclusive community and strong economy; and

WHEREAS, Washington calls upon all employers, both public and private, to be aware of and utilize the employment skills of disabled by recognizing their worth as individuals and their productive capacities; and

WHEREAS, the state of Washington, through the Department of Services for the Blind, Department of Social and Health Services' Developmental Disabilities Administration, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and Economic Services Administration, Washington State Rehabilitation Council and Rehabilitation Council for the Blind, Washington State Independent Living Council and Client Assistance Program, other public agencies, and through the cooperative assistance of numerous civic and non-profit groups, can look forward to a continued expansion of employment opportunities for the greater acceptance of disabled persons in the competitive labor market;

NOW THEREFORE, I, Jay Inslee, governor of the state of Washington, do hereby proclaim October 2024 as

Disability Employment Awareness Month

in Washington, and I urge all people in our state to celebrate the many and varied contributions of people with disabilities and reinforce the value and talent that people with disabilities add to our workplaces and communities.

Signed this 27th day of September, 2024

Governor Jay Inslee

Return to top

 

 

National Disability Employment Awareness Month History

The Department of Services for the Blind (DSB) is joining in the commemoration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month and White Cane Safety Day. Everyone is cordially invited to join DSB at events around the state throughout the month of October.

It is the goal of nearly everyone in the world to be employed, to be successful, and make enough money to sustain a way of life. All of this hinges on the ability to get a job. But only 33.1 percent of people aged 16-64 who have disabilities are active in the work force.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is trying to combat this low percentage. It has its roots in 1945, when Congress passed a proclamation stating that the first week of October would be classified as “Nationally Employ the Physically Handicapped” week in support of returning veterans. In 1962 the week was opened up to all disabled Americans when the word “physical” was removed. In 1988, the week was expanded to a month, and it was renamed with the title we know today.

The Office of Disability Employment Policy took over the organization of the month in 2001. The month of October is now host to a myriad of events and celebrations, including White Cane Safety Awareness Day and World Sight Day. In many places it is also the setting for events promoting, and celebrating, different forms of disabilities. Many states have laws regarding the third week of October as a week for acknowledging the role those with disabilities have had in our history and the world today, as well as to bring light to how those with disabilities were treated in the past.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month is a statement that those with disabilities can – and do – accomplish great and helpful things, and that everyone should have equal access and opportunity to be a successful, integral part of society.

Return to top

 

 

White Cane Safety Awareness Day, October 15

White Cane History

The long white cane is a tool for many blind people. It seems to have always been there, ready to help the independent traveler discover their surroundings. But it has only become powerful, and prevalent, in the past fifty years, despite being used sporadically throughout history. The symbolism of the cane has grown so powerful in fact that it has its own day to promote and reinforce how amazing it is, and all it does in the lives of millions.

White Cane Safety Day was created to promote independence using a cane, and to alert and remind sighted drivers of the correct traffic procedures when sharing the road with blind people. Though laws concerning the white cane were put in place in 1930, the enforcement of many early law were often debated. Because of this, many were ineffective. The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) saw this need and acted on it.

During their 1963 convention the NFB asked the states to recognize the fifteenth of October as White Cane Safety Day and a recognition of blind independence. The request was granted by Congress in October 1964. One condition requested in the creation of the observance was that it would always come with a presidential proclamation, stating the day’s significance. Lyndon B. Johnson was the first president to make this proclamation.

Because of this great leap forward, new laws regarding blind travelers have been put in place throughout the United States, many based on model law written by Dr. Jacobus tenBroek. It is because of these laws that the white cane has the empowering qualities that it does, and blind citizens of America have and ability to move as freely and safely as sighted travelers.

October 15 has also been proclaimed as "Blind Americans Equality Day" by every U.S. President since 2011.  Blind Americans Equality Day, celebrates and recognizes the accomplishments and contributions of Americans who are blind or visually impaired.

For more information, visit the National Federation of the Blind website.

Washington White Cane Law

Return to top