National Disability Employment Awareness Month: How to Raise Awareness and Support

At Ohio Valley Goodwill, we’re proud to recognize and support National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Observed every October, NDEAM is a national campaign that celebrates the contribution of workers with disabilities and promotes awareness of the value of a workforce that includes people with disabilities.

Goodwill’s Logo

The 2019 NDEAM theme is ” The Right Talent, Right Now,” which emphasizes the essential role that people with disabilities play in America’s workforce and economic success.

The history of NDEAM dates back to 1945 when just one week was set aside to recognize workers with physical disabilities. In 1962, the event expanded to include all persons with physical and mental disabilities, and in 1988, the week-long recognition period was extended to the full month of October.

The inclusion of individuals with disabilities in the workplace is fundamental to Ohio Valley Goodwill’s mission to change lives through the power of work. Approximately one in five Americans have a disability, and they make up nearly 20 percent of America’s workforce. However, their unemployment rate is more than twice that of workers without disabilities.

At Ohio Valley Goodwill, we aspire to see a future where all individuals, including those with disabilities, have opportunities to contribute to their communities, earn wages, reach their full potential, and enjoy an enhanced quality of life. By educating employers and advocating for individuals with disabilities, we believe we can advance disability inclusion and increase employment opportunities for all.

So, what can you can do to celebrate NDEAM and promote more inclusive workplaces? One easy way to support employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities in your community is by shopping at and donating to Goodwill. Every time you donate your gently-used items or shop at Goodwill for clothes, accessories, and household goods, you support our life-changing programs and services for individuals with disabilities and help people go to work!

Goodwill’s Cycle of Success

For more than 100 years, Ohio Valley Goodwill has supported job seekers with disabilities, helping them gain the skills they need to achieve personal and vocational success in their communities. We invite you to join us in celebrating the accomplishments of workers with disabilities and acknowledging the importance of creating even more employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities in the U.S. labor force.

See Goodwill’s mission in action by reading the Success Stories of individuals who received support from Ohio Valley Goodwill’s programs and services. To learn more about the services and programs offered by Ohio Valley Goodwill, click here.