Opening Statement:
For most of us ideas on what to do for a career generally starts around the middle school years between the ages of 11 to 13. In High School, students begin to develop their interests, strengths, and aptitudes around the ages of 13 to 15. This concept should be no different concerning students with various disabilities. Regarding adults who become disabled later in life, applying their past skills, training, and overall work experiences should help them reenter the workforce. This month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (N.D.E.A.M) celebrates the accomplishments, contributions to the economy, and the workforce by the disabled community. N.D.E.A.M also focuses on the barriers faced accessing good jobs that have gainful employment and competitive wages. This year’s theme is “Access to Good Jobs for All". The number one goal of N.D.E.A.M is to ensure that people with disabilities have access to good jobs all year-round.
History of National Disability Employment Awareness Month
· National Disability Employment Awareness Month was created to educate the general-public on the issues that workers with disabilities face and how employers can be more inclusive in their hiring practices.
· This celebration’s history started decades ago in 1945 when Congress enacted Public Law 176, which birthed what we know today as the National Disability Employment Awareness Month (N.D.E.A.M). It was only for a week then and called National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week. In 1962, the word ‘physically’ was removed to make the celebration inclusive of individuals with disabilities that were not physical. Twenty-six years later, the celebrations were extended to a whole month by Congress and renamed National Disability Employment Awareness Month in 1988.
· Another major step in the evolution of N.D.E.A.M came some years later in 2001 when the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) was formed as an offshoot of the U.S. Department of Labor. ODEP took over the management of the N.D.E.A.M and was responsible for choosing the theme for each year, which usually happens at the beginning of the year to give companies and individuals more time for preparation.
· This year marks 76 years since the National Disability Employment Awareness Month was first celebrated. Organizations, companies, and individuals are encouraged to participate in spreading the word, especially at the grassroots level, where any form of outreach can be most effective.
How to Observe National Disability Employment Awareness Month
· Review Your Company Policies
A great way to show support to employees is to take time to review your company's culture by double-checking that those with disabilities are included.
· Hold A Discussion
The N.D.E.A.M is the perfect opportunity to organize discussions, especially for students, centering around disability employment. This is especially important because they are at an age when they are considering career options and having all this information will help them make the right choices.
· Create An N.D.E.A.M Press Release
This is a good tip for government agencies, legislators, and policymakers. Formal statements reiterating the commitment of the state to foster inclusive workplace culture for employees with disabilities will highlight the importance of this holiday.
Why National Disability Employment Awareness Month Is Important
· N.D.E.A.M Educates the Public
One of the reasons why N.D.E.A.M is important is that it highlights the struggles of people with disabilities. This is especially true in the labor market where it may not be as easy for disabled individuals to get jobs.
· N.D.E.A.M Creates Job Opportunities
The National Disability Employment Awareness Month is a great period for people with disabilities to get jobs. Many states organize job fairs that connect people with disabilities and organizations.
· N.D.E.A.M Helps Individuals with Disabilities Acquire Skills
Several initiatives make this period special for people with disabilities. Some states partner with local health care institutions and community colleges to help individuals with disabilities acquire marketable skills that can help them get jobs.
Closing Statement and Personal Note:
Concerning people with disabilities, finding appropriate employment all starts with a positive attitude, open communication, good training, education, and correct guidance. To share a little bit about my personal experiences, I didn’t listen to my high school case managers or the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation on what they thought was best for me and my future. The only thing they were correct about was, I wouldn’t be able to work full-time because of my various disabilities and the challenges I face every day. It turned out that attending Vocational High School for Multimedia and Intro to Technologies was the correct choice and career path for me. When I was encouraged to take culinary for the last year of vocational school, it was a horrible experience for me as well as it contributed to my neck and back pain and my anxiety. Additionally, continuing after high school by attending adult education night classes for creative writing, audio for electronic media, and additional Microsoft training worked to my advantage with obtaining a career. I am a blogger and I own and operate a small photography business specializing in landscape and nature photography. Although, I am not earning a lot of money, I am contributing to the economy and the workforce by working as much as I can.
Some questions you can consider when thinking about a career include:
· What are your interests?
· What kind of work environment do you like or require?
· Do you know what kind of accommodations you may need to do the job of your choice?
· How much education or training will you need?
· What type of lifestyle do you want?
· Are you able to work full-time or part-time?
The bottom line is, never give up, you can and will find a career, you will contribute to the workforce, and the economy if you just stay positive, focused, and believe in yourself. It is extremely important that you become and will always remain being your “own cheerleader” because no one else can do it for you, except YOU!
Source of Information: Various Google Searches, Personal Experiences and Comments
Until Next Week, Stay Safe and Well!
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