October is set aside as the month to recognize the value of employees with disabilities, including adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This month we highlight the National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), as well as the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
People with disabilities have too often been excluded from participating in basic civic activities like using the public transportation system, serving on a jury, voting, or simply attending a high school sports event with family and friends. The ADA is a federal civil rights law that was passed in 1990 and went into effect beginning in 1992. Its purpose is to protect people with disabilities from discrimination in employment and in accessing needed services in their communities. The integration of people with disabilities into the mainstream of American life is a fundamental purpose of the ADA.
NDEAM is held each October to commemorate the many and varied contributions of people with disabilities to America’s workplaces and economy. This year the theme for NDEAM 2021, “America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion,” reflects the importance of ensuring that people with disabilities have full access to employment and community involvement during the national recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
In doing our part, we would like to highlight the many wonderful faces of some of our adults who are a thriving force in their respective places of employment. We are very proud of their accomplishments and dedication to their jobs. We’d like to see this number grow! If you’d like more information on the value of employing adults with disabilities, I am but a call away.
We have plans for expanding our Job Readiness and Support Program for the benefit of our clients and area businesses. I would like to thank the Woodforest Charitable Foundation for their support of this initiative which you will be hearing more about in the future.
