October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
October 4, 2010National Disability Employment Awareness Month celebrates the accomplishments of individuals with disabilities and seeks to bring awareness to the need to work for equal employment opportunity for all citizens.
This effort to educate the public about the issues related to disability and employment began in 1945, when Congress enacted Public Law 176, declaring the first week of October each 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. Some 25 years later, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to National Disability Employment Awareness Month (Library of Congress, loc.gov).
Unfortunately, recent data shows employment for people with disabilities still lags behind employment for those without disabilities. In August, 2010, the unemployment rate for those with disabilities was 15.6 percent, compared with 9.3 percent for individuals without a disability.
On October 1, President Obama issued a proclamation declaring October, 2010 as Disability Employment Awareness Month. He pledged a renewed “focus on improving employment opportunities and career pathways that lead to good jobs and sound economic futures for people with disabilities.” To read the full text of his proclamation, go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2010/10/01/presidential-proclamation-national-disability-employment-awareness-month
