3 Ways to Join Goodwill in Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month!
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), a time to recognize and celebrate the many and varied contributions of people with disabilities to America’s workplaces and economy. While our country has made incredible progress since NDEAM was first observed 76 years ago, there’s still more that needs to be done to stop stereotypes, create opportunity, and bridge the gap in employment faced by individuals with disabilities.
The theme for NDEAM 2021, ” America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion,” reflects the importance of ensuring that people with disabilities have full access to employment and community involvement during the national recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. With nearly every industry facing labor shortages, there is a powerful opportunity to raise awareness, educate, and encourage employers to embrace the talents and skills that workers with disabilities bring to the workplace.
NDEAM celebrates workers with disabilities, but it’s also a time for all of us to think of ways we can make a difference and pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future. At Ohio Valley Goodwill, we’re on a mission to do just that “” and we rely on your support!
During October and throughout the year, here are some great ways you can join Goodwill in celebrating the accomplishments of individuals with disabilities in the workplace while helping to make your community a more inclusive place for all:
NDEAM 2021
Get Inspired
Ohio Valley Goodwill has been dedicated to its mission of helping people with disabilities achieve personal and vocational success for more than a century! We’re proud to provide essential job skills training, career coaching, and employment services to help individuals find, obtain, and maintain community employment. We’re constantly inspired by those we serve, and we invite you to read their Success Stories to get inspired, too!
As we celebrate NDEAM, be sure to watch a special Mission Moment during our Facebook Live broadcast on October 7th at 1 pm. We’ll also be featuring two video stories this month about Goodwill’s award-winning employment services and job coaching support. Follow Ohio Valley Goodwill on Facebook and tune in!
Donate or Shop for a Good Cause
Creating jobs in your community is easier than you may think! Any time you donate your gently-used items to Goodwill or shop in one of our stores, you’re supporting Goodwill’s mission and making a lasting impact. We gladly accept donations of clothing, household items, and more, which are resold in our retail stores to fund life-changing vocational programs and services. Ohio Valley Goodwill even accepts car donations for our weekly Auto Auction, providing an easy way to get rid of an old car and support Goodwill’s mission at the same time! Find your nearest donation site or retail store here. If you’re thinking about donating a car to charity, learn more about Ohio Valley Goodwill’s car donation program in Cincinnati!
Spread the Word
Last but not least, a powerful way you can make a difference during NDEAM and all year long is by raising awareness and educating yourself and others in your personal network!
Take friends and family with you when you shop at Goodwill or drop off donations. Ask them if they know about Goodwill’s mission to provide job skills training and employment support to individuals with disabilities. Encourage them to learn about the barriers individuals with disabilities face in finding employment and how they can help people go to work in their community!
Learn about using inclusive language and respectful etiquette when talking about individuals with disabilities or interacting with someone who has a disability. Above all, treat others with dignity, always thinking of the person first and not only their disability.
Talk to your employer about the advantages of hiring individuals with disabilities and the value of filling open positions with workers of all abilities. Employers can find out more about hiring people with disabilities and enhancing the inclusive nature of their workforce by calling Employment Services Manager, Mark Leugers, at (513) 771-4800.
Be a Part of Goodwill’s Mission!
Ohio Valley Goodwill has helped thousands of people obtain jobs in the Greater Cincinnati area during our 100+ years of service. Last year, we assisted almost 600 individuals in achieving vocational success despite the disruptions of the pandemic. Learn more about Ohio Valley Goodwill’s important Employment Services program here, and find your nearest retail store or donation site to become a part of our mission today!
