National Disability Employment Awareness Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is held each October to recognize the many and varied contributions of people with disabilities to America’s workplaces and economy.
NDEAM’s 2023 theme is “Advancing Access and Equity,” recognizing the importance of ensuring all people have equal opportunity to contribute their skills and talents. The workplace is an important part of NDEAM. Despite significant job gains over the past two years, many workers are facing higher levels of unemployment. As America’s economy continues to recover, inclusion is key to our success.
In addition to the disability employment initiatives you’ll find in this toolkit provided by Munroe-Meyer Institute, access the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy's website to browse additional resources and explore more ways to celebrate NDEAM.
Nearly 50 million Americans have disabilities.
Capitalize on their talents with employment practices that benefit everyone.
Every day, people with disabilities can and do make important contributions to America’s businesses. They have the drive to succeed in employment, and the skills and talent they need to deliver value and results for their employers.
As we work collaboratively to combat stigma and promote positive messages about disability employment, it is crucial for employers to create accessible and inclusive environments that promote greater workforce participation and employment success for all citizens.
The Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) is a highly collaborative effort among several disability and business organizations that highlights supportive, inclusive workplaces for all workers.
Rehabilitation Act
Advancing Access and Equity – Then, Now and Next
2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Rehabilitation (Rehab) Act of 1973 — the first federal legislation to address access and equity for people with disabilities. To honor this major milestone, ODEP will be conducting a variety of activities throughout the year.
Disability Inclusion Resources
For Employers, Employees and Jobseekers
While the CDE does not provide one-on-one assistance to employers or individuals with disabilities seeking training or job placement assistance, the CDE website is a gateway to valuable resources that can help. Specifically, the Where to Learn More section features two useful online toolkits.
Get Social | October 1-31 |
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Follow MMI and Others
- MunroeMeyerInstitute on Facebook
- U.S. Department of Labor (DOL): Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter)
- Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE): Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter)
Share
Share a fact, start a conversation or invite others to support disability employment.
Use Hashtags
#NDEAM | #NDEAM2023 | #DisabilityEmployment | #InclusionWorks
Accessibility tip: DidYouKnow that capitalizing the first letter of each word in a hashtag makes it more accessible for people of all abilities? Learn more.
At Work |
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Jeans Day
Ask your employer to consider supporting your office or team wearing jeans one day a week in October for a small donation ($1-5 weekly) to an organization that supports disability employment programs.
Use this to jumpstart a conversation about acceptance and inclusion of individuals with disabilities in your workplace.
Virtual Meeting Background
Apply the NDEAM virtual background for your Teams or Zoom meetings!
Download the background at dol.gov
Links, News & Resources |
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Advancing Access through Inclusive Postsecondary Education Program
- MMI-UNO Trailblazers
- Project Search
- Heartland Workforce Solutions
- Madonna School & Community Based Services
- Prosper Workforce Services at Autism Action Partnership
Disability Employment
- ADA National Network provides information, guidance and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) offers free resources that help employers tap the benefits of disability diversity by educating public- and private-sector organizations on ways to build inclusive workplace cultures.
- National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) provides insight from legislative leaders and staff, political observers and public policy experts from across the nation.
Celebrate Local Inclusive Hiring
The employers listed below know the value of hiring people with disabilities. An easy way to support disability employment is to support their business!
Please note, this is not a complete list of inclusive employers in our area and only includes businesses with whom we have direct and personal knowledge of inclusive hiring.- Munroe-Meyer Institute, UNMC
- Easterseals Nebraska
- Embassy Suites
- Goodwill
- Hy-Vee
- LaCasa
- Mosaic
- Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
- NP Dodge
- Sodexo at Nebraska Medicine
- Should your business be highlighted here? - Contact us!
Web Accessibility
This is the inclusive practice of ensuring there are no barriers that prevent interaction with, or access to, websites on the World Wide Web by people with physical disabilities, situational disabilities, and socio-economic restrictions on bandwidth and speed. When sites are correctly designed, developed and edited, generally all users have equal access to information and functionality.
Website accessibility features are the elements of a site designed to improve the ability of people with disabilities to independently use it. Sometimes website include extra options specifically to enhance some people’s use and these are noted by the ‘accessibility icon’ shown, which is a generally a stick person with arms outstretched symbol inside a circle. Learn more.
About the Munroe-Meyer Institute
MMI's mission is to be world leaders in transforming the lives of all individuals with disabilities and complex health care needs, their families and the community through outreach, engagement, premier educational programs, innovative research and extraordinary patient care.
University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), Education, Research and Service
The Munroe-Meyer Institute UCEDD is directed by Mark Shriver, PhD, BCBA-D [bio].
in 1968, the Munroe-Meyer Institute was designated as a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) and maintains that designation today through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living (ACL).
As a UCEDD, MMI is a member of the Association of University Centers on Disability (AUCD), one of 68 programs across the United States and its territories uniquely affiliated with universities, allowing them to serve as liaisons between academia and the community. UCEDDs are independent but interlinked centers, representing an expansive national resource for the promotion of independence, self-determination, productivity, integration, and inclusion of individuals with developmental disabilities and provide supports for families.
The core functions of a UCEDD are to provide pre-service preparation and continuing education, services (including technical assistance, community education, and direct services), research and information dissemination.
Contact Us
Munroe-Meyer Institute (MMI), UNMC
6902 Pine Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68106
402-559-6418
For more information, email MMI's Community Engagement department.
Mark Shriver | Director, UCEDD at Munroe-Meyer Institute | Email
Rachel Ray | Assistant Professor, UCEDD at MMI; Program Director, MMI-UNO Trailblazers | Email
Nicole Hackendahl | Digital Media Manager, Community Engagement | Email