NDEAM Ideas

As we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) held each October, we do so to celebrate contributions made by workers that have a disability and also to educate the community about disability related issues. Although this is highlighted during the month of October each year, it’s really ongoing throughout the whole year and there are some things your organization or group can do to participate in NDEAM.

Participation can range from simply putting up a poster to a more in depth development of a disability education program within your group or organization. Either way, you are letting those around you know the value of inclusion. Inclusion brings diversity to the forefront, and diversity helps facilitate innovation. And innovation, of course, is the act of making changes to something through new methods, ideas, or products; and what decision maker (large or small) does not value innovation?

So, as we often contemplate giving all year instead of only at Christmas time, it’s not too late to begin thinking about implementing a form of disability awareness all year rather than just contemplating it during the month of October. The following websites are a good place to start. You can download and order posters and have access to other activity ideas.

• What Can You Do?
• Office of Disability Employment Policy – NDEAM

And remember that Workforce Solutions has several resources for both job seekers and employers to help make the Gulf Coast region remain a great place to live, work and do business.

David Spears is a member of the Workforce Solutions Navigator team for the Texas Gulf Coast Region. Combining training and education to real world examples, David brings personal and professional experience with disabilities to the table in order to help job seekers with disabilities realize their potential. David has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with over 20 years of experience in the business world.