Goodwill Observes and Supports National Disability Employment Awareness Month!

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), an annual awareness campaign led by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. This month, employers of all sizes from all industries are encouraged to observe NDEAM by learning about disability employment issues and recognizing the contributions of Americans with disabilities in the workplace. The 2019 NDEAM theme is “The Right Talent, Right Now,” which celebrates the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities.

During October and all year round, Ohio Valley Goodwill recognizes the value of providing job training and employment for individuals with disabilities in the Greater Cincinnati community. We’re proud to observe National Disability Employment Awareness Month, joining other service providers, advocacy groups, and employers around the country who share our passion for supporting job seekers with disabilities.

For more than 100 years, Ohio Valley Goodwill has provided skill training, job placement services, and employment assistance for those with disabilities and other barriers to employment. Last year alone, more than 3,500 individuals received vocational support through our services and programs. Through the power of work, individuals with disabilities receive more than a paycheck; they also gain a sense of independence, self-esteem, and empowerment.

This year, Ohio Valley Goodwill is happy to announce that in addition to its award-winning programs and services for people with disabilities, the organization has just added new Transition Youth Services designed to provide assistance towards community employment. Please visit our website at https://www.cincinnatigoodwill.org/transition-youth-services/ to find out more about these new services for students with disabilities.

Ultimately, we believe that workers with disabilities add significant value and talent to our workforce and the more inclusive our workplaces become, the better our overall economic health and vitality of our community. We’re proud to share the inspirational success stories  of individuals who have received support from Ohio Valley Goodwill.

This October, Goodwill encourages companies and organizations to participate in NDEAM by raising awareness about the important message of workplace inclusion for all. Here are some ways business leaders, employees, and community members can take part in NDEAM:

• Become educated on disability etiquette.  Hold internal training programs and educate employees about the value of a diverse workplace culture.
• Participate in Disability Mentoring Day. Host a Disability Mentoring Day for youth with disabilities by organizing hands-on programs, job shadowing and mentoring.
• Support disability support organizations, like Goodwill!  We have a long history of providing services for community members with disabilities. Every time you donate your gently-used household goods to Goodwill, shop in one of our stores, volunteer, or make a monetary donation, you become a job creator in your community for individuals with disabilities. When you support Goodwill, you support job placement and training for those who need it the most.

Please join us this October and help people go to work in our community! Learn about Ohio Valley Goodwill’s  programs and services  and find more information about NDEAM on the  U.S. Department of Labor website.