Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month
October is “National Disability Employment Awareness Month.” Our ECHO community celebrates this month of education on disability employment issues and the role they play in fostering a disability-friendly work culture as ECHO helps those into employment.
The theme for 2021 is “America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion.” As employers struggle to fill the job gaps created by the global pandemic, it is important to educate and encourage them to hire with diversity and inclusion in mind.
People with disabilities are often challenged with stigma during the hiring process. More awareness about the benefits of employing people with disabilities can help them overcome this obstacle to employment.
ECHO’s mission to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve their optimal level of personal, social and economic success is directly in line with these initiatives. The services we provide empower individuals to be active members of the community.
The Benefits of Hiring Individuals with Disabilities
Research shows many benefits of hiring people with disabilities. These include:
Improvements in Profitability
Businesses who hire with inclusion in mind find increased profits and cost-effectiveness, a reduction in turnover and increased retention, more reliability and punctuality, employee loyalty and a favorable company image.
Competitive Advantage
Employers who hire individuals with disabilities have more diverse customers, customer loyalty and satisfaction, innovation productivity, work ethic and safety.
Diversity and Inclusion Awareness
When people with disabilities are part of an organization it creates a more inclusive work culture and increases ability awareness.
Benefits for Employees with Disabilities
Employment for people with disabilities is beneficial in many ways, including improved quality of life, steady income, enhanced self-confidence, expanded social networks and a greater sense of community.
Help Spread Awareness During National Disability Employment Awareness Month
As America begins to recover and employers look to fill vacant positions, we can help spread awareness of the benefits of hiring people with disabilities. A diverse workforce is more likely to outperform competitors, attract a more diverse customer base, have highly skilled employees who are motivated to exceed expectations, and have better employee retention. This leads to higher profits, increased productivity and better overall job satisfaction.
When employers provide individuals with a sense of purpose and a sense of worth – regardless of their abilities – everyone wins.
How are you planning to observe National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)? Held each October, NDEAM aims to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. NDEAM is led by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, but its true spirit lies in the many observances held at the grassroots level across the nation every year. Learn how you can support NDEAM by visiting the ODEP website: www.dol.gov/NDEAM.
