October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), an initiative started by the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). The theme for 2024 is “Access to Good Jobs”—a fitting tagline, as NDEAM’s goal is to ensure disabled workers have access to good jobs every month of the year. 

Many disabled people want to work but face an uphill battle in finding employment because of systemic biases, inflexible and antiquated attitudes regarding people with disabilities, or inaccessible workplaces. Ensuring all employees can continue to work in the event of an illness or accident (along with fostering disability inclusion in the workplace) can help make sure people with disabilities have access to work and employment. 

In support of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, let’s look at some of the ways employers can be inclusive of those in the disability community. You can also check out our comprehensive TOOLKIT. 

Improving Inclusivity 

The NDEAM designation makes October an ideal time to educate employees, train supervisors, and review company policies to ensure an inclusive workplace culture. The Office of Disability Employment Policy suggests several strategies for advancing disability inclusion, including 

• Hosting disability 101 events for employees, such as lunch-and-learns to educate them about disability issues
• Creating employee resource groups so employees can provide feedback and assist with recruiting
• Incorporating disability accommodations into the company onboarding process

Where can a company find job candidates with disabilities? Try partnering with state and local nonprofits that specialize in centers for independent living, vocational rehabilitation facilities, or job centers. You can also host a Disability Mentoring Day (read on for details) and show support for people with disabilities on one’s website and in the job descriptions themselves. 

For more tips, read Relay Resources CEO Dr. Jennifer Camota Luebke's recent article for Forbe's on Three Easy Ways to Include People with Disabilities in Your Workplace. 

Disability Mentoring Day

October is home not just to NDEAM but also Disability Mentoring Day, which takes place the third Wednesday of the month. Disability Mentoring Day is a chance to show young people with disabilities the workplace opportunities in your organization that are available to people with disabilities—hopefully as many opportunities as there are for non-disabled people!

The occasion gives companies like yours the opportunity to sponsor or host a Disability Mentoring Day and invite young people with disabilities to one’s work for a sort of “job fair.” You can also reach out to this community through paid internships or apprenticeships, which can be great ways for people to acquire skills and receive on-the-job training. 

A young girl with down syndrome working on a laptop. Photo by Cliff Booth:

Show Public Support

Another way your company can broaden its inclusivity is by using accommodating language in the job descriptions you post and in the company mission itself. Candidates will feel more comfortable disclosing their disability if they see the word “disability” in a diversity statement, or if there are pictures of workers who have disabilities on a company website. It’s even better if candidates are made aware of positive outcomes or given examples of employees with disabilities who work there already. Show them what you have to offer! 

It is also imperative to use plain language in job descriptions, and to allow candidates multiple ways to apply and communicate regarding the position. Offer accommodations for the job but also for the interview process itself—ideally prior to the interview—to make sure candidates have everything they need, and that recruiters are not scrambling at the last minute. One could lose out on a good candidate by being unprepared. Here is a list of 12 ways to ensure inclusive hiring practices for people with disabilities. 

A team having a discussion at the office. Photo by Kampus Production:

Benefits of Hiring People in the Disability Community

Disability inclusion does not have to be challenging, expensive, or cumbersome for employers. In fact, the Job Accommodation Network notes that companies that champion people with disabilities outperform others. By making a few simple adjustments to one’s hiring policies and instituting an inclusive workplace culture, we can ensure equal access to employment. Because disabled people belong—everywhere. 

This coming year, what steps can your organization take to ensure access to good jobs for all? If you’re looking for more assistance, Relay Resources can help with disability inclusivity training and assistance. Take a look at our comprehensive Toolkit for even more information and Resources. 

For those in the disabled community, Relay Resources also hosts drop-in hiring events each Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. at our headquarters, located at 5312 NE 148th Ave., Portland, Oregon, 97230. Or you can email careers@relayresources.org for more information. 

 Relay is also offering consulting services to companies that want to host a disability inclusion awareness event; they can contact marcomm@relayresources.org.

Relay Resources offers employment and business solutions for and with people with disabilities. Learn more about what Relay Resources does here, along with how you can support inclusive workplaces or find employment.