Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), an annual recognition of the positive impact of people with disabilities on the American workforce. According to the Office of Disability Employment Policy at the U.S. Department of Labor, "this yearly event began in 1945 as a weeklong national observance of the contributions of people with physical disabilities," and has evolved into what we now recognize annually as NDEAM. The spirit behind NDEAM is to acknowledge and celebrate the diverse value and impact people with disabilities bring to the workforce. The theme for this year’s NDEAM is "Celebrating Value and Talent," and the annual poster is available to download. We invite you to join us in actively celebrating NDEAM. For ideas on how to celebrate NDEAM throughout October, see the 31 Days of NDEAM calendar available through the U.S. Department of Labor. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Spread the NDEAM celebration with your community by adding an NDEAM link on your website, newsletter, and social media. This link will help raise awareness of NDEAM, demonstrate your commitment to increasing disability employment, and provide others with ideas for celebrating NDEAM.
• Host an NDEAM breakfast or lunch at your organization. This is an opportunity to invite local employers and businesses to gather around celebrating NDEAM. Engage, network, and connect on how to continue supporting and facilitating inclusive employment.
• Reach out to local media and spread the word on NDEAM. You can highlight local employers and businesses for their inclusive hiring practices, while educating the broader community on the value of inclusive employment.

To learn more about NDEAM, including resources, this year's poster and theme, and ideas for celebrating NDEAM beyond October, visit NDEAM 2026.