This October marks the 63rd celebration of National Disability Awareness Month. Congress commemorated the month in 1945 to increase public awareness of the contributions and skills of the more than 51 million people classified as disabled in the United States today (U.S. Census Bureau).
What is National Disability Employment Awareness Month?
Congress designated each October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).
This effort to educate the American public about issues related to disability and employment actually began in 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."
Since 2001, the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) in the U.S. Department of Labor has been responsible for planning NDEAM activities and materials to increase the public's awareness of the contributions and skills of American workers with disabilities. Various programs carried out throughout the month also highlight the specific employment barriers that still need to be addressed and removed. ODEP provides information online that can to be used for National Disability Employment Awareness Month, as well as other educational programs throughout the year on its Publications webpage.
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