What is National Disability Employment Awareness Month?
National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), observed each October, marks an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of workers with disabilities to America’s workplaces and economy. During NDEAM, we confirm our commitment to ensuring workers with disabilities have access to good jobs all year round.
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
NDEAM is a critical time to recognize and celebrate people with disabilities in the workplace. Only 44% of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities aged 21-64 are in the labor force. This compares to 83% of working-age adults without disabilities who are in the labor force. Employing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities improves their lives, their families, their communities, the organizations they serve, and our economy.
NDEAM is an annual opportunity to educate people about these benefits, celebrate progress made and—most importantly—commit to building a stronger, more equitable and inclusive workforce going forward.
Who Participates in NDEAM?
Employers of all sizes across industries are encouraged to take part in NDEAM, as are educators and youth service professionals, business associations, labor unions, and disability advocacy organizations. NDEAM is a great time to celebrate, educate, reflect, and reaffirm your organization’s commitment to ensuring all Americans can gain the skills to put them to work.
Why is Inclusion Important?
All companies have different roles and need a variety of people, perspectives, and opinions to execute those roles effectively. Educating people about the value of inclusion and how everyone brings unique talents to the table is essential.
Every person should have access to a safe and welcoming job. Nobody should experience feeling they are not a part of their team because of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, or disability. Additionally, a disability-inclusive workplace creates a strong workforce and delivers bottom-line benefits. Leaders in disability inclusion had 1.6x more revenue, 2.6x more net income, and 2x more economic profit than their counterparts.
How Does Bello Machre Support Workplace Inclusion?
Bello Machre helps adults with developmental disabilities find a meaningful career in their community. Our Meaningful Day Services offers job coaching, job development, training and support, and opportunities for employment. We begin by working with the individual to learn about their career aspirations. Whether they’re interested in a more traditional office job like Samantha, an entrepreneurial endeavor like Kelly, nonprofit work like Hannah, or a career in video production like Jared, Bello Machre’s role is to support them throughout their employment journey.
Help Spread Awareness
There are many ways each of us can acknowledge and celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Employers can consider doing the following:
- Establish an Employee Resource Group (ERG) to offer employees an opportunity to connect and receive support from others with similar backgrounds or interests.
- Train supervisors to ensure they understand their role in fostering an inclusive workplace culture.
- Educate employees about the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion through disability training or informal educational events such as brown-bag lunch discussions.
- Publish articles on your website, intranet, newsletter, and social media. Topics could include your company’s commitment to inclusivity, how to request reasonable accommodations, or recognition of the contributions of employees with disabilities.
- Partner with Bello Machre’s Meaningful Day Services by hosting a tour for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Consider employing qualified candidates within your workplace.
NDEAM activities don’t have to end in October. NDEAM offers year-round activities that highlight the importance of including disability in all of your organization’s diversity endeavors. Doing so delivers numerous benefits to employers, including improved profitability, increased productivity and job satisfaction, more innovation and diversity, and a better corporate culture.