DRC National Disability Employment Awareness Month Resources

The Dallas Regional Chamber is thrilled to participate in National Disability Employment Awareness Month, celebrated every October to honor the many contributions people with disabilities make to our communities.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month began as “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week” in 1945. In the following years, several large strides were made to promote equal opportunity for, and prohibit discrimination against, those with disabilities. Some of those steps include the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Since 1945, awareness efforts have been expanded to include all disability types and to last the entire month of October. However, companies still have more to do to advocate for inclusivity.

This year, the theme of National Disability Employment Awareness Month is “Disability: Part of the Equity Equation,” which celebrates the essential role individuals with disabilities play in the workplace. As we enter the month, employers can raise awareness by creating an employee resource group, educating their employees, and certifying that workplace policies contribute to an office culture that includes people regardless of their disability status. Below are some specific resources to aid in celebrating this meaningful month.

Read and Watch:

- - S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy | National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2022
  - What Can You Do? | Celebrate National Disability Awareness Month
  - Administration for Community Living | National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM): Materials, Events, and More

Events:

- - October 11 |Thinking Outside the Box: States’ Journey in Using ARP Funding to Increase CIE
  - October 13 |Employer Chat on Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being
  - October 13 | Building a Disability-Inclusive Organization
  - November 13 |To Be Like Me – Fall Community Day 2022

Ways to Engage:

- - Measure your disability inclusion – Take the Disability Equality Index assessment and develop your roadmap for disability inclusion.
  - Connect on social media – Use your social media platforms to highlight National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
  - Explore resources – Access the Disability Inclusion Toolkit from the Ford Foundation for guidance on creating accessible in-person and virtual events, social media, and disability inclusive employment practices from recruitment to retention.
  - Learn about history – Visit the Museum of disAbility History’s virtual museum and explore six different “wings” covering media, medicine, education, and more.