National Disability Employment Awareness Month

US awareness month

National Disability Employment Awareness Month was declared in 1988 by the United States Congress for the month of October to raise awareness of the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. The month is an extension of "National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week" originally observed during the first week of October beginning in 1945.[1] In 1962 the word "physically" was removed from that week to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. Americans observe National Disability Employment Awareness Month by paying tribute to the accomplishments of the men and women with disabilities whose work helps keep the nation's economy strong and by reaffirming their commitment to ensure equal opportunity for all citizens.[2]

Origin

In 1945, the US government pushed to educate the public about issues relating to disabilities and employment. That year Congress enacted Public Law 176, which declared the first week of October, every year, as National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week. In 1962, the word "physically" was removed to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities.[3] Congress later expanded the first week of October to the entire month of October and changed the name to National Disability Employment Awareness Month in 1988.

History

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits any public institutions that receive federal funds from discriminating on the premise of disability.[4] Only two years later in 1975, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act was passed requiring public schools that accept federal funding to provide equal education and access to education for disabled children.[4] Years later in 1990, President Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guaranteeing access to and prohibits discrimination against individuals with physical or mental disabilities.[4] In 2000, President Clinton signed an Executive Order, requesting for the federal government to hire 100,000 people with disabilities over the next five years.[4][5] The final major event that happened is when Congress created the Office of Disability Employment Policy within the Department of Labor.[4][6]

Initiatives

Under the United States Department of Labor is an Office of Disability Employment Policy. This office has created the Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) which aims to improve education, training and employment opportunities and outcomes for youth and adults with disabilities who are unemployed, underemployed and/or receiving Social Security disability benefits.[6] Through the DEI, there are 70 Disability Resource Coordinators. Along with State Project Leads, they serve to strengthen the capacity of American Job Centers in hopes of increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities.[7]

Georgia

  • Funding a full-time counselor dedicated to maximizing positive outcomes for disabled job seekers and in the workforce.

California

  • Partnering with local trainers for trucking driving to assist people with disabilities and employers within an internship.

Massachusetts

  • Partnering with some local healthcare facility along with some community colleges to help with people with disabilities acquire skills with hopes of eventually helping them with job employment.

Connecticut

  • Creating job fairs in order to create connections between businesses and people with disabilities hoping to result in job seekers with disabilities gaining a job.

Iowa

  • Career fairs in which the job seeker is behind the table promoting their own employment ambition showcasing their skills to potential employers.

California

  • Partnership Plus agreement ensure that various American Job Centers are able to provide full services for Vocational Rehabilitation clients.

New York

  • "Ticket Holders," which are people who "provide employment support services to beneficiaries,"[8] are taught to acknowledge their fears and loss of benefits.

Figures

With 62.7% of non-institutionalized persons 16 and older in the workforce, only 19.5% of which have disabilities.[9]

See also

  • Disability History Month
  • Disability

References

  1. ^ "What is National Disability Employment Awareness Month?". Department of Labor. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  2. ^ "About | National Disability Employment Awareness Month | Library of Congress". The Library of Congress. Retrieved 2018-11-01.
  3. ^ Bureau, US Census. "National Disability Employment Awareness Month: October 2018". www.census.gov. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  4. ^ a b c d e "National Disability Employment Awareness Month Timeline" (PDF). 2016. Retrieved 2018-10-16.
  5. ^ "Executive Order 13163". US Department of Transportation. 2015-04-07. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  6. ^ a b "Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) - Office of Disability Employment Policy - United States Department of Labor". www.dol.gov. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  7. ^ "WorkforceGPS: Disability Employment Initiative". dei.workforcegps.org. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  8. ^ "Coordinations with Partner Programs" (PDF). United States Department of Labor. Retrieved 2018-10-29.
  9. ^ "National Disability Employment Awareness Month Facts and Figures" (PDF). DiversityInc. 2016. Retrieved 2018-10-16.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Holidays, observances, and celebrations in the United States
January
January–February
February
American Heart Month
Black History Month
February–March
March
Irish-American Heritage Month
Colon Cancer Awareness Month
Women's History Month
  • Saint Patrick's Day (religious)
  • Spring break (week)
    • March–April
  • Easter (religious)
    • April
    Arab American Heritage Month
    Confederate History MonthMay
    Asian American and
    Pacific Islander Heritage Month
    Jewish American Heritage Month
    Military Appreciation Month
    June
    Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
    Transgender Pride Month
  • Juneteenth (federal, cultural)
  • Father's Day (36)
    • JulyJuly–AugustAugustSeptember
    Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
    Childhood Cancer Awareness MonthSeptember–October
    Hispanic Heritage Month
  • Chehlum Imam Hussain (religious)
  • Oktoberfest
  • Pitri Paksha (religious)
  • Rosh Hashanah / Feast of Trumpets (TX, NY, religious)
  • Shemini Atzeret (religious)
  • Simchat Torah (religious)
  • Vijaya Dashami (religious)
  • Yom Kippur / Day of Atonement (TX, NY, religious)
    • October
    Breast Cancer Awareness Month
    Disability Employment Awareness Month
    Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month
    Filipino American History Month
    LGBT History MonthOctober–November
  • Birth of the Báb (religious)
  • Birth of Baháʼu'lláh (religious)
  • Day of the Dead (VI)
  • Diwali (NY, religious)
  • Mawlid al-Nabi (religious)
    • November
    Native American Indian Heritage Month
    December
  • Christmas (religious, federal)
  • New Year's Eve
    • Varies (year round)
  • Eid al-Adha (NY, religious)
  • Eid al-Fitr (NY, religious)
  • Islamic New Year (religious)
  • Yawm al-Arafa (religious)
  • Hajj (religious)
  • Laylat al-Qadr (religious)
  • Navaratri (religious, four times a year)
  • Obon (religious)
  • Onam (religious)
  • Ramadan (religious, month)
  • Ghost Festival (religious)
  • Yawm Aashura (religious)
    • Legend:

    (federal) = federal holidays, (abbreviation) = state/territorial holidays, (religious) = religious holidays, (cultural) = holiday related to a specific racial/ethnic group or sexual minority, (week) = week-long holidays, (month) = month-long holidays, (36) = Title 36 Observances and Ceremonies

    See also: Lists of holidays, Hallmark holidays, Public holidays in the United States, Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands.
    Authority control databases Edit this at Wikidata
    • NARA