It’s here! National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) kicked off on October 1. How are
you celebrating? The 2019 NDEAM theme is “The Right Talent, Right Now.”
The history of National Disability Employment Awareness Month traces back to 1945 when Congress
enacted a law declaring the first week in October each year “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. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month
and changed the name to National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
Summit is proud to support National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Held each
October, NDEAM aims to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied
contributions of America’s workers with disabilities.
NDEAM is led by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), but
its true spirit lies in the many observances held at the grassroots level across the nation every year.
The Campaign for Disability Employment encourages organizations of all sizes and in all industries to
participate in NDEAM.
Employers and employees in all industries can learn more about how to participate in National Disability
Employment Awareness Month and ways they can promote its messages — during October and
throughout the year — by visiting www.dol.gov/NDEAM.
