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QUESTION: What is National Disability Employment Awareness Month?
ANSWER: Congress designated each October as National Disability
Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). The Office of Disability Employment Policy
has the lead in 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.
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."
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