Awareness of NDEAM’s theme on “Disability: Part of Equity Equation” shines a light on the disability rates among working-age adults that are shaped by race, place, and education. According to the Brookings Institute, “At the national level, Native Americans have the highest disability rates among working-age adults (16 percent), followed by blacks (11 percent), whites (9 percent), Hispanics (7 percent), and Asians (4 percent).” Disability overall effects indigenous and black Americans more than any other racial groups.

Approximately 50 million individuals have disabilities. People with disabilities contribute to diversity, and businesses can enhance their competitive edge by taking steps to ensure they are integrated into their workforce and customer base.

The benefits of hiring workers with disabilities are surely not insignificant:

• US Chamber of Commerce CEO and president says individuals with disabilities make great employees. Their work ethic has a positive effect on the morale and productivity of other employees. As well, workers with disabilities impact the profitability of business.
• There are tax benefits to hiring workers with disabilities.
• Popular culture and professional literature contain numerous examples that describe individuals with disabilities as productive, dedicated and responsible employees.
• In a study of more than 900 supervisors and employers showed that workers with disabilities were rated higher than their counterparts without disabilities on a number of factors including attendance, arriving to work and returning from breaks on time, accepting authority and being accepted by the public.
  
  

Resources include:

• Celebrate the Many Contributions of America’s Workers with Disabilities (nmedacanada.ca)
• Disability rates among working-age adults are shaped by race, place, and education
• https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-avenue/2018/15/disability-rates-among-working-age-adults-are-shaped-by-race-place-and-education/
• 15 Influential People With Disabilities (themighty.com)
• 15 Inspiring Famous People With Disabilities | Disability Friendly (disabilityfriendlylv.com)

National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) 2022 focuses on “Disability: Part of the Equity Equation.”

Observed every October, NDEAM celebrates the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities both past and present, as well as highlighting supportive and inclusive employment policies and practices. In April 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor released their Equity Action Plan, which summarizes the early actions to support marginalized, vulnerable and underserved communities, while continuing to advance equity across the department. In 1945, Congress declared the first week of October to be “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.” In 1988, Congress expanded the week and named the month of October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month. President George H.W. Bush signed into law the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) in July 1990. The legislation provides comprehensive civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities in the areas of employment, public accommodations, state and local government services and telecommunications.

SMPS Atlanta is pleased to support and participate in NDEAM. Resources include:

• NDEAM
• NDEAM’s official social media kit
• https://ada.georgia.gov/history-and-spirit-behind-law
• https://www.ada.gov/pubs/ada.htm