Ohio Valley Goodwill Helps Promote National Disability Employment Awareness Month!
Ohio Valley Goodwill has long been part of the annual awareness campaign to promote National Disability Employment Awareness Month which takes place during the month of October each year. The purpose of National Disability Employment Awareness Month is to educate the larger community about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. This year’s theme is ” America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion.” As an Employment and Training Center for more than a century, Ohio Valley Goodwill has been dedicated to its mission of helping people with disabilities to get jobs and attain personal success. Typically, the organization serves 3000 people annually and in the past, helped almost 1000 to get jobs in the community- efforts which have helped to assist in the recovery from the pandemic and related lay-offs of many people with disabilities.
The history of National Disability Employment Awareness Month traces back to 1945 when Congress enacted a law declaring the first week in October each year ” National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.” In 1962, the word ” physically” was removed to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
” Our national recovery from the pandemic cannot be completed without the inclusion of all Americans, in particular people with disabilities,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. ” Their contributions have historically been vital to our nation’s success, and are more important today than ever. We must build an economy that fully includes the talent and drive of those with disabilities.”
Reflecting this year’s theme, throughout the month, Ohio Valley Goodwill will be engaging in a variety of activities to educate the community on disability employment issues and its commitment to an inclusive work culture. These efforts include a special Mission Moment during its Facebook Live broadcast on October 7th at 1 pm to announce the organization’s commitment to helping people to get jobs in the Greater Cincinnati community. Monthly, Goodwill features a video story of an individual who is successfully employed in the community and during this month, will feature two different stories- one regarding Goodwill’s award-winning Employment Services and the story of Ethan Courtney https://youtu.be/XTWKLJZTWd8 and the other explaining Job Coaching support. Check out these important stories during National Disability Employment Awareness Month at www.facebook.com/cincigoodwill
” Ohio Valley Goodwill is proud to be a part of this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month,” said Sharon Hannon, Marketing Director. ” We want to spread the important message that we value all perspectives, including those of individuals with disabilities.” For more than a century, Ohio Valley Goodwill has been helping people to obtain jobs in the Greater Cincinnati and last year, assisted almost 600 to achieve vocational success- even during a pandemic. The organization is proud to have been recognized by long-time partner, Butler DD, with the 2021 Inclusion Award, for its efforts to help more than 125 individuals to find new employment after being laid off due to mandated closures in 2020. To find out more about Goodwill’s important Employment Services programs, visit www.cincinnatigoodwill.org/services.
Employers and employees in all industries can learn more about how to participate in National Disability Employment Awareness Month and ways they can promote its messages “” during October and throughout the year “” by visiting www.dol.gov/NDEAM. For more information about hiring people with disabilities and enhancing the inclusive nature of your workforce, please call Employment Services Manager, Mark Leugers at (513) 771-4800.
Mark Leugers, Employment Services Manager
