80 Years of Progress and Yet So Much More To Do: NDEAM and Disability Inclusion

This October, we’re celebrating the 80th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month ( NDEAM), an initiative of the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) under the U.S. Department of Labor. 

NDEAM is an annual recognition of the positive impact that people with disabilities have in the workforce, with the goal of bringing attention to the many disabled workers in the American workforce, and the myriad contributions and perspectives they bring. 

It’s a time to celebrate disabled workers while pushing to ensure that all people with disabilities have access to good jobs—a cause near and dear to us at Relay Resources, an organization devoted to advancing disability inclusion in the workplace.

A History of Raising Awareness for Disabled Employees 

Although NDEAM began in 1945 as a “weeklong national observance of the contributions of people with physical disabilities,” the ODEP was officially created in 1998 after President Bill Clinton signed Executive Order 13078, which formed the Presidential Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities.

At first, NDEAM primarily celebrated people with physical or developmental disabilities, but it has evolved to recognize people with nonapparent disabilities, such as mental health issues and neurodivergence.

While at this moment we may see a backlash to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts, we at Relay Resources still believe that inclusive workplaces are beneficial for everyone. Disability cuts across political, gender, racial, economic, and social dividing lines. The future is one of universal design and inclusive practices. Why? Because these practices help everyone. Think of ramps or curb cuts: While they are necessary for wheelchair users to gain entry into a building, they also help people pushing strollers, delivery drivers carrying goods, or travelers hauling luggage.

Disability Employment Gap

Fortunately, employment for people with disabilities rose to its highest overall level in 2023, with 38% of people with disabilities finding employment. Unfortunately, barriers to the workplace for disabled people still exist. The percentage of disabled people employed is still between 30% to 40%, compared to 65%-70% for non-disabled people, which means non-disabled people have twice the workforce participation of the disabled.

Part of the reason for this is simple: Some disabled people simply can’t work because of their disability. Yet there are many other people with disabilities who can and want to work, but face barriers to do so. Why, then, is it so hard for disabled people to find a job?

Another way to build awareness and education around the issue is to understand that everyone is different. There is great diversity in disability. There are temporary disabilities and permanent ones. There are disabilities acquired at birth and those that develop later. Some folks might be physically disabled but still excellent in social situations. Others might be neurodivergent and have a difficult time in social situations, but excel in behind-the-scenes work.

This October remember: Disabled people are just as capable of performing their jobs as non-disabled; they may just require an accommodation or two. As we celebrate eight decades of NDEAM, we want to honor and celebrate all the value of disability-inclusive workplaces while also acknowledging that there is still work to do. 

If you’re ready to take action, we’ve created a collection of free, practical resources to help you start or strengthen disability-inclusive practices in your workplace.

On our NDEAM 2025 page, you’ll find:

• A downloadable infographic on the disability employment gap

• A social media toolkit to help raise awareness

• An inclusive workplace checklist to evaluate your current practices

• A step-by-step guide to creating more accessible and welcoming work environments

All of these tools are free to download and easy to share with your team.

Explore the NDEAM 2025 Resource Hub