Honoring National Disability Awareness Month

By Errika Moore, senior program officer

“Increasing Access and Opportunity” was the 2020 theme for October’s annual observance of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). 2020 represents the 75th observance of NDEAM which is administered by DOL’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). This month is an opportunity to celebrate the resourcefulness that people with disabilities bring to the workplace. It was instituted to uplift and honor the inclusive and equitable environments that employers have created for individuals with disabilities, and to illuminate the skills and accomplishments of the workers themselves.

Each October, it’s so important to celebrate workers with disabilities for being experienced problem solvers, providing diversity of thought and perspective and representing tremendous value in the overall workforce ecosystem. Therefore not only in October, but every month, let’s remind employers of the importance of inclusive hiring practices for diverse and skilled talent.

And given the interdependence within the three pillars of the Equity of Opportunity Architecture, we’re so excited that the “activities conducted by educators and youth service professionals are a critical component of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)” according to the Office of Disability Employment Policy. When students gain early exposure to diversity and to the opportunity to appreciate inclusiveness, they can enhance their social interactions with peers with and without disabilities.

According to the Triumph Foundation website, below are a few ways to highlight and bring NDEAM (or any time of the year) into the classroom:

• Hold a discussion — NDEAM presents an opportune time to discuss the topic of disability employment with students, particularly those at an age when they are considering career options and learning about the world of work. One easy way to do so is to use the “I Can” public service announcement and accompanying youth discussion guide.
• Create a display — NDEAM is a great time to freshen up bulletin boards. Start by putting up this year’s NDEAM poster, which is available in both English and Spanish. Additional display materials include the “What Can YOU Do?” poster series. Educational supply stores may also offer other materials with positive images featuring people with disabilities in various community and employment settings.
• Organize an assembly — Another option is to hold an assembly addressing the topic of disability employment, with content tailored as appropriate for age. Such an assembly might feature guest speakers from local disability service organizations and/or people with disabilities in various professions willing to talk about their jobs, interests and experiences. Related to this, it is important to consider that any career exploration event, such as a traditional career day (whether held during NDEAM or any other time of year), include people with disabilities.
• Implement “soft skills” training — Interpersonal skills, such as teamwork, decision-making and communications, are critical for success in all occupations and industries. Yet, many youth do not have exposure to training focused on such “soft” skills prior to entering the workforce. During NDEAM or anytime, you can address this gap with Skills to Pay the Bills: Mastering Soft Skills for Workplace Success — a series of interactive, hands-on activities to help youth prepare for employment, regardless of their interests or intended career paths. Although developed by ODEP, this curriculum’s content is applicable to youth both with and without disabilities and is available in both English and Spanish.
• Educate about disability history — Despite the number of people with disabilities in the U.S. and the fact that they represent all races, classes and cultures, many people are unaware of the rich history of the disability movement. To fill this gap, some states require schools to teach about disability history each year. For information about these state’s efforts, see Establishing Disability History Awareness Initiatives — A Roadmap for States and Territories. For an overview of major milestones in disability history and resources for educators to enhance awareness of it, see Disability History: An Important Part of America’s Heritage.
• Engage student leaders — Faculty advisors to groups such as student councils and student-led publications or other media can suggest NDEAM as a possible hook for content during October. For example, a student council might invite a local community leader with a disability to a meeting to speak about his or her experiences. Likewise, student reporters might interview such an individual or write an article/produce a segment on the contributions of many famous people with disabilities throughout America’s history.
• Share the “Guideposts for Success” — The Guideposts for Success represent what research and practice has identified as key educational and career development interventions that make a positive difference in the lives of all youth, including youth with disabilities. NDEAM is a perfect time to introduce (or reinforce) these important findings to educators and youth service professionals. Channels for doing so might include workshops, trainings or staff publications.
• Train front-line staff — It is imperative that youth service professionals have the knowledge, skills and abilities to effectively serve youth with disabilities, especially those in transition. Key tools to assist in improving this capacity — during NDEAM and all year round — are available through ODEP’s Youth Service Professionals KSA initiative and related training materials.