National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2024

President Joseph R. Biden issued a proclamation in honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) to recognize the incredible contributions of disabled Americans to our country and our economy. He recommits to opening the doors of opportunity wider for people with disabilities, making our Nation more equal, accessible, and fair. He describes his administration’s work to ensure people with disabilities have access to good jobs.

In this blog post, Assistant Secretary of the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) states that, this year’s NDEAM theme, “Access to Good Jobs for All,” underscores the importance of focusing on the quality of opportunities available to people with disabilities. DOL works to ensure that all people can contribute and benefit from our nation’s economic success.

In honor of NDEAM, the DOL announced a new tool that provides access to more than 700 accommodation ideas for workers with disabilities and their employers. The "Situations and Solutions Finder" offers examples of workplace accommodations. The database draws its examples from organizations large and small, across industries, and from the private and public sectors. The tool allows users to filter and save results by disability, limitation and/or occupation.

NDEAM is an opportunity to celebrate the many contributions of people with disabilities to America’s workplaces and economy. An essential part of ACL’s mission is to expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities. In addition to funding programs that provide direct employment support services to people with disabilities and advocating for policies and practices that prioritize and support competitive integrated employment as a key component of community living, ACL also invests in research to increase knowledge about the benefits of employment of people with disabilities and to increase the availability of effective interventions to support employment.

This year the American Bar Association (ABA) celebrates the 79th observance of NDEAM in recognition of the contributions lawyers and judges with disabilities make to the legal profession and to encourage law firms, judiciaries, and other legal employers to make disability diversity and inclusion a priority. Throughout October, lawyers with disabilities and disability rights advocates will share their thoughts on this year’s theme.

Each October during NDEAM, the Arc celebrates the contributions, achievements, and potential of people with disabilities in the workplace. This page includes ways that everyone can observe and celebrate NDEAM, such as learning about the value of people with disabilities in the workplace, sharing your disability employment story, and looking at your company’s disability hiring practices.

Observed each October, NDEAM celebrates the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities past and present and showcases supportive, inclusive employment policies and practices that benefit employers and employees. ODEP has chosen "Access to Good Jobs for All" as the theme for NDEAM 2024.

In October, Americans observe NDEAM by paying tribute to the accomplishments of the men and women with disabilities whose work helps keep the nation’s economy strong and by reaffirming their commitment to ensure equal opportunity for all citizens. This page includes information on NDEAM and the history of efforts to promote the rights of people with disabilities.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is observed in October to promote workplace inclusion and celebrate the contributions of people with disabilities. The theme for 2024, "Access to Good Jobs for All," highlights the need for expanding inclusive, high-quality job opportunities for individuals with disabilities. On September 9th, Missouri Gov. Michael Parson has issued a proclamation for Disability Employment Awareness and Disability History Month in 2024.

The American Bar Association (ABA) actively participates in National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) each October, recognizing the contributions of lawyers and judges with disabilities. The ABA Board of Governors formally recognized October as NDEAM, encouraging law firms and other legal employers to prioritize disability inclusion.

2024 marks the 79th observance of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The 2024 NDEAM theme is “America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion,” emphasizing the importance of inclusive hiring practices. NDEAM began in 1945 as "National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week." In 1962, the term "physically" was removed to include all disabilities, and in 1988, the observance was extended to a full month and renamed National Disability Employment Awareness Month.