How much do you know about NDEAM?
National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is an opportune time to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. NDEAM is held in October annually and is led by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, but its true spirit lies in the many observances held at the grassroots level across the nation every year. Employers of all sizes and in all industries are encouraged to participate in NDEAM.
The 2016 NDEAM theme is #InclusionWorks. Individuals and groups across the nation are encouraged to take their NDEAM spirit online by posting images on social media illustrating the many ways “inclusion works.”
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What can you do?
As for employers:
Hire, Retain and Advance People with Disabilities. In business, the investment that drives innovation is talent. The knowledge, skills and abilities employees bring to work each day are by far the assets that yield the most output over the long term. Whether good economic times or bad, it’s the organizations that know how to identify and recognize talent that are most likely to succeed. Businesses that are inclusive of people with disabilities – in recruitment, retention and advancement – benefit from a wider pool of talent, skills and creative business solutions. Additionally, work environments that are flexible and open to the talents of all qualified individuals, including those with disabilities, actually promote workplace success for everyone.
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As for people with disabilities:
Work is fundamental to our lives. It means so much more than a paycheck — it offers purpose and the opportunity to lead an independent, self-directed life for all people, including people with disabilities.
People with disabilities have the skills to pursue meaningful careers and play an important role in America’s educational and economic success. In fact, experience with disability can offer a competitive edge when it comes to work. If you are a person with a disability, only you can define your own limitations. High expectations are essential to success. Organizations exist that can help you seek employment, identify the tools you need to be productive on the job, and understand your right to be evaluated on your ability, not disability. Because after all, at work it’s what people can do that matters.
As for family and educators:
Family and educators play a critical role in the expectations young people with disabilities develop for themselves. It is essential that they strengthen these expectations by instilling an early love of learning and cultivating a clear vision of work and community participation.
Consistency is key to infusing such expectations. The assumption of work should be echoed by all people of influence in a young person’s life. Parents, teachers, coaches, clergy, neighbors and others all play a powerful role in helping young people, especially those with disabilities, dream big and achieve their aspirations. As part of this, young people with disabilities should be encouraged to take risks and be given the freedom to fail and learn from their mistakes.
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Reference:
- United Stated Department of Labor official website, 2016
http://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/ndeam/resources.htm#Articles
- What can you do campaign website, 2016
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