DEI in Motion: National Employee Disability Awareness Month
In October, we observe National Employee Disability Awareness Month. National Employee Disability Awareness originated as just a week, but in the late 20th century, Congress expanded the week to the full month of October.[1] The observation of NEDAM promotes awareness and praises the disabled community for the accomplishments and work it does in the American economy.
This year, the U.S. Department of Labor’s theme for NEDAM is “Advancing Access and Equity” as America celebrates 50 Years of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.[2] The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 laid the crucial foundation for the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which legally protects Americans with disabilities from discrimination.[3]
National Employee Disability Awareness Month primarily exists to pay tribute to those with disabilities in the workforce and acknowledge that disabled folks have – and will continue to be – integral to the economy. Economic mobility is crucial for any group that has faced or continues to face adversity. According to The Bell Policy Center, “people with greater economic mobility have more choices available to them and their families than people with low economic mobility. At the same time, existing systems in society affect economic mobility. Improving mobility is therefore critical to improving the quality of life available to people.” [4]
Although the Americans with Disabilities Act protects disabled people from discrimination, the disabled community remains left behind socioeconomically. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, the labor force participation rate for people with disabilities aged 16 and over is only 41.2%.[5] By comparison, for abled participants in the labor force, the participation rate is 78.2%.[6] Furthermore, the unemployment rate of disabled Americans is nearly double that of the abled population.[7]
As we celebrate National Employee Disability Awareness Month, keep in mind there is more work to be done to support the disabled community - may October be just the start!
Resources:
October is Disability Employment Awareness Month, WTSI: https://www.wtsinternational.org/news/october-disability-employment-awareness-month
City of Boston’s Employment resources for people with disabilities: https://www.boston.gov/departments/disabilities-commission/employment-resources-people-disabilities
City of Boston Disabilities Commission:
https://www.boston.gov/departments/disabilities-commission
[1] https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/initiatives/ndeam#:~:text=Observed%20….
[2] https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/odep/odep20230511
[4] https://www.bellpolicy.org/what-is-economic-mobility/#:~:text=People%20….
[5] https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/research-evaluation/statistics
[6] https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/research-evaluation/statistics
[7] https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/research-evaluation/statistics.