Remember: October is National Disability Employment Month

This year’s theme for National Disability Employment Month is Expectation + Opportunity = Full Participation. This annual October celebration as designated by Congress is an opportunity to highlight the contributions and skills of Americans with disabilities to the workforce.NDEM is a time not only to acknowledge the struggle people with disabilities endure to obtain employment, but also to celebrate the strides made by those who have overcome the many barriers to employment. It is also an opportunity to recognize employers, who have hired people with disabilities and are tapping into new sources of creativity in this existing source of employees. NDEM is an excellent opportunity for ANCOR providers of employment and vocational supports to host events and activities that recognize employment accomplishments and draw attention to the 70 percent of unemployed people with significant disabilities —a huge untapped portion of the labor force.

Activities to Recognize National Disability Employment Awareness Month:

• Employer recognition events
• Share successes with the media
• Identify employers who hire people with disabilities to the media
• Host events highlighting employers and individuals
• Meet with and form partnerships with local workforce investment boards and one stop centers
• Work with your governor’s office to issue a proclamation


The Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy has made available the NDEM 2009 Poster. The posters are available in one size, 20” x 15,” at no cost to you. Please enter your online order here. The maximum order is 100 posters. You may also download PDF versions of the posters.

ANCOR joins with providers of employment and vocational supports in celebrating NDEM and appreciates all of your efforts to expand opportunities for employment for people with disabilities. Please share any NDEM activities or ideas your agency or state association is sponsoring with Jessica Sadowsky at jsadowsky@ancor.org.