Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Posted on by Arcare

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and 2026 marks its 81st anniversary! 

National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) began in 1945 as a weeklong national observance focusing on the contributions of individuals with physical disabilities in the workforce. As the years have progressed, this celebration, expanded to last a whole month, has evolved to acknowledge the importance of employment opportunities for all people with disabilities, including those with neurodivergence, invisible disabilities, and mental health issues. Its main goal is to highlight the positive impact individuals with disabilities have had and continue to have on the American workforce. 

This year’s NDEAM theme is “Celebrating Value and Talent.” The  U.S. Department of Labor states this year’s theme is meant to “recognize the skills and contributions Americans with disabilities add to the nation’s workplaces, communities, and economy.” It celebrates the many, varied, and significant contributions of America’s workers with disabilities.  

National Disability Employment Awareness Month is significant as it encourages the hiring of and employing of individuals with disabilities. Employment for an individual with a disability can provide much more than just a paycheck. The list of benefits of employment for the individual is long and varied. Employment can lead to greater financial independence, more social connections, higher confidence in oneself and abilities, as well as integration into the larger community. Inclusive employment opportunities ensure that individuals with disabilities have the chance to share their talents in ways that are meaningful to them. 

Inclusive employment practices not only benefit employees with disabilities but also benefit employers. Individuals with disabilities bring new perspectives, new talent, and skills to the workforce. In an Office of Disability Employment Policy survey on the employment of people with disabilities, 60.8% of companies reported that hiring people with disabilities increased their pool of qualified candidates. Employing individuals with disabilities can also bring economic benefits to employers. As detailed in this NDEAM video by the U.S. Department of Labor, a recent study has found that employers leading in disability employment tend to lead in economic trends as well. On average, these companies had 60% higher revenue, 2.6 times the net income, and 2 times higher economic profit margins compared to their counterparts. These findings highlight that disability inclusion and employment benefit the workplace as a whole- from building talent to increasing economic outcomes.  

National Disability Employment Awareness Month encourages employers to reaffirm their commitment to ensuring all Americans, including those with disabilities, can put their talents to work. 

So, what are the best ways as an employer to reaffirm this commitment and celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month?   

Employers are encouraged to: 

  1. Cast a wider net when hiring! Double down on efforts to recruit, hire, retain, and advance individuals with disabilities.  
  1. Center voices of individuals with disabilities.  
  1. Explore workplace updates and accommodations, such as adding alternate text to images, improving document accessibility, or adding captions to videos, to support current and future employees.  
  1. Educate and train employees and supervisors about inclusivity in the workplace. 

Individuals can also celebrate NDEAM and help make a difference in raising awareness of employment for workers with disabilities. Individuals are encouraged to: 

  1. Share and amplify stories, statistics, and resources highlighting the contributions of people with disabilities.  
  1. Advocate for inclusive practices in your workplace and community.  
  1. Participate in awareness activities.  

Since our inception, Arcare has believed that individuals with disabilities have the right to live the highest quality of life and achieve the highest level of independence and well-being possible. Part of this mission is the belief that individuals with disabilities should have the opportunities, such as the opportunity for employment, to meaningfully participate in their communities. This mission has led us to contribute over $100,000 through our Charitable Grant Fund for supported inclusive employment over the past four years. These donated funds have supported programs for inclusive employment at places such as The Golden Scoop and Down Syndrome Innovations. We are proud to celebrate and support NDEAM in its mission to recognize the contribution of workers with disabilities and encourage the employment of these individuals. 

Please visit the U.S. Department of Labor website for more information about NDEAM. We can’t wait to see your celebrations and stories throughout October and beyond! 

Join the inclusive hiring movement during National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Posted on by Arcare

This October marks the 76th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The purpose of the monthlong event is to raise awareness about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities.

Fittingly, the theme of this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month is America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion. Right now, a record number of businesses report having jobs they can’t fill. While safety concerns surrounding the global Covid-19 pandemic are very real, perhaps it is time for organizations to look at becoming more disability-inclusive in their hiring practices.

The Kansas Employment First Initiative Act was passed in 2011 declaring it to be the policy of the State that competitive and integrated employment shall be considered its first option when serving persons with disabilities who are of working age to obtain employment. Among other things, this act also established the Kansas Employment First Oversight Committee, whose focus is on increasing the number of Kansans with disabilities in competitive, integrated employment. What is competitive, integrated employment? Simply put, competitive and integrated employment means a job in the community that pays a worker with disability the same wage that a worker without a disability receives, and in which a worker with a disability interacts with workers without a disability.

Right now, our country is facing a shortage of school cafeteria workers, restaurant staff, hospitality and hotel staff, supermarket workers, textile workers and software engineers, among many other open employment opportunities. A research study produced jointly by AAPD and Disability:IN suggests that “if companies embrace disability inclusion, they will gain access to a new talent pool of more than 10.7 million people (in the U.S.).” So what’s the hold up?

Businesses don’t always understand the benefits of inclusive hiring practices. The study noted above revealed that companies that embrace best practices for employing and supporting people with disabilities in their workforces consistently outperform their peers, including having, on average, 28 percent higher revenue, double the net income and 30 percent higher economic profit margins. In addition, statistics show that employees with disabilities stay at jobs longer, thus reducing the time and cost involved in retraining and replacing personnel. Other national studies have shown that the performance of employees with disabilities equals or exceeds their non-disabled peers in several crucial areas, including safety, reliability and productivity. The intrinsic benefits that a disability-inclusive workplace provides include diversification and strengthening of culture through varied perspectives on how to confront challenges and get the job done. Individuals with disabilities bring creativity, innovation, problem-solving and commitment to the workplace.

Businesses are concerned about the cost of accommodating persons with disabilities. However, the data collected by the national Job Accommodation Network shows that most employers report no additional cost or low costs for accommodating employees with disabilities. “Of those accommodations that did have a one-time cost, the median one-time expenditure as reported by the employer was $500. When asked how much they paid for an accommodation beyond what they would have paid for an employee without a disability who was in the same position, the median answer given by employers was $20.”

What can we do to support disability inclusive hiring practices?

Individuals are encouraged to take the following actions:

  • Share a NDEAM poster on social media. Download an English version or a Spanish version now.
  • Share your inclusive workplace experiences with the hashtag #NDEAM on social media.
  • Share these PSAs from the “What Can YOU Do?” Campaign

Employers are encouraged to:

  • Display a NDEAM poster in our workplace. Download an English version or a Spanish version now.
  • Use this month to educate and train employees and supervisors about inclusivity in the workplace. Start by accessing training materials from the Job Accommodation Network.
  • Establish an Employee Resource Group.
  • Participate in a Disability Mentoring Day.
  • Reach out to the Kansas Vocational Rehabilitation Office to connect your business with skilled workers in your area! Learn more.

Please visit the U.S. Department of Labor website for more information about NDEAM. We can’t wait to see your celebrations and stories throughout October and beyond!

National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2020: Increasing access and opportunity

Posted on by Arcare

Arcare is proud to support National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Each October, NDEAM aims to educate the public about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. It also serves as a reminder to employers of the importance of inclusive hiring practices.

Ensuring that America’s workplaces continue to include and accommodate people with disabilities will be an important part of our economic rebound. Looking ahead, the Department will remain focused on the policies that led to a strong economy and record-low unemployment rates for persons with disabilities prior to the pandemic. A vigorous economic rebound and job growth will, alongside the Americans with Disabilities Act, increase access and opportunity for Americans with disabilities.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia

This October marks the celebration of the 75th NDEAM, and we couldn’t be more excited to share a few ideas for how you can help recognize this special occasion.

For Individuals:

Access direct downloads of these videos »

For Employers:

For more information about NDEAM, please visit the U.S. Department of Labor website. Follow Arcare on LinkedIn and Facebook to see our #NDEAM stories and celebrate with us by sharing your own!