National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Happy Friday, have a great weekend!

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This is the perfect time to hold our Disability Event for High School Students with Disabilities to be immersed in a career for a day. NDEAM began in 1945, when it was known as “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week” this resolution was approved by President Harry S. Truman announcing it would the first week in October. “Physically” is removed in 1962 to recognize the employment needs and contributions of persons with all different kinds of disabilities. In 1989, Congress develops the “National Employ the Handicapped Week” to “National Disability Employment Awareness Month,” which is celebrated each October.

“Americans of all abilities must have access to good, safe jobs,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. “Smart employers know that including different perspectives in problem-solving situations leads to better solutions. Hiring employees with diverse abilities strengthens their business, increases competition and drives innovation.”

“People with disabilities must be woven into our work culture. Already, we benefit from the incredible array of talent they bring to our workplaces. But we must raise the bar, we must create the inexorable expectation that people with disabilities will contribute in every way to our economic successes. Only by nurturing this expectation and providing people with disabilities with unlimited employment opportunities, can we all benefit from their talents.”
-Kathy Martinez

History of NDEAM

6/2/1920 – The Smith-Fess Act

1935 – Works Progress Administration Protests

8/14/1935 – Social Security Act

6/20/1936 – Randolph-Sheppard Act

6/25/1938 – Fair Labor Standards Act Section 14(c)

6/25/1938 – Wagner-O’Day Act

1971 – The Javits-Wagner O’Day Act

8/11/1945 – Declaration of “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week”

1947 – President’s Committee on “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week”

1950 – Beginning of National Barrier-Free Standards

8/3/1954 – Vocational Rehabilitation Gains Momentum

8/1/1956 – Creation of Social Security Disability Insurance

1961- President’s Panel on Mental Retardation

1968 – Architectural Barriers Act

1972 – Independent Living Movement

9/26/1973 – The Rehabilitation Act

11/30/1975 – Education for All Handicapped Children Act/Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

4/28/1977 – Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act

1978 – “Try Another Way” and Supported Employment

10/13/1982 – Job Training Partnership Act of 1982

1983 – Transportation as an Employment Support

1983 – Job Accommodation Network

11/10/1986 – Employment Opportunities for Disabled Americans Act of 1986

1988 – President’s Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities

7/26/1990 – Americans with Disabilities Act

10/29/1992 – Rehabilitation Act Amendments

1992 – First Youth Leadership Forum

1992 – Disability In the Context of Diversity

1995 – Workforce Recruitment Program

2/8/1996 – Telecommunications Act

8/20/1996 – Work Opportunity Tax Credit

9/26/1996 – Mental Health Parity Act of 1996

3/18/1998 – Presidential Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities

8/7/1998 – Workforce Investment Act of 1998

8/7/1998 – Section 508

7/22/1999 – Olmstead Decision

12/17/1999 – Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act

10/30/2000 – Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act

2001 – Office of Disability Employment Policy

2001 – Section 508 Self-Evaluation Survey and Report

2001 – Ticket to Work Program

10/25/2004 – Assistive Technology Act of 2004

9/25/2008 – The ADA Amendments Act of 2008

2/5/2009 – Regular Reporting of Disability Employment Statistics

2/17/2009 – The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

9/18/2009 – Campaign for Disability Employment

7/26/2010 – Executive Order 13548– Increasing Federal Employment of Individuals with Disabilities. 

7/26/2010 – Induction of Justin W. Dart Jr. and Helen Keller into Labor Hall of Honor

9/15/2010 – ADA Standards for Accessible Design

9/29/2010 – Disability Employment Initiative

3/25/2011 – Publication of Final Regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008

8/27/2013 – Updates to Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act

7/22/2014 – Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

1/5/2015 – Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities.

For more information on any or all of these important events, you can check out: https://www.dol.gov/featured/ada