Building Inclusive Futures: National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Image: The text reads “Celebrating Value and Talent,” with National Disability Employment Awareness Month below. Surrounding it are graphics that resemble fireworks, with images of people working various jobs within them.

Each October, the nation recognizes National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) as a time to honor the contributions of people with disabilities to the American workforce and reflect on the work still needed to build truly inclusive workplaces. Established by Congress in 1945 as “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week,” this observance was created to educate the public about the employment needs and contributions of people with physical disabilities following World War II. Over time, the scope expanded to include all disabilities, and in 1988, Congress officially designated October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). 

Today, NDEAM is led by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and serves as a nationwide call to action: to celebrate the value that people with disabilities bring to the workforce and to advocate for greater inclusion and equity in every industry. Every year, communities, businesses, and advocates across the country take time to spotlight the talents of people with disabilities, while also drawing attention to the barriers they still face in securing meaningful employment.

Image: A woman who is a wheelchair user wears a reflective vest and safety goggles with two co-workers standing behind her. They look at another employee who is speaking with them.

Employment not only offers a paycheck, it also brings purpose, independence, and dignity for individuals. For many people with disabilities, employment is also about facing workplace situations that haven’t historically been accessible or equitable. Recognizing NDEAM encourages employers to examine how they can better support people with disabilities in hiring, onboarding, workplace culture, and advancement. It reminds us all that inclusion must be intentional for both employers and people with disabilities seeking jobs. Overall, NDEAM highlights the tremendous benefits that inclusivity brings to the workplace. 

The Employment Gap — and Why Recognition Matters

Despite decades of progress, the employment gap between people with disabilities and those without remains significant. In 2024, only 22.7% of people with disabilities were employed, compared to 65.5% of those without disabilities. The unemployment rate for people with disabilities continues to be nearly twice as high, even as national job markets expand. These disparities are not from lack of talent or motivation, but are rooted in ableism and longstanding barriers in our employment systems.

From inaccessible online applications and rigid interview expectations to workplaces that are not designed to accommodate a variety of needs, many people with disabilities are still navigating environments that lack inclusion and accessibility. Even after securing a job, they may face misconceptions, isolation, or limited opportunities for advancement.

That’s why recognizing National Disability Employment Awareness Month is so powerful. NDEAM helps bring these challenges into the public conversation, celebrates contributions, and shifts perceptions. When we honor the skills, talents, and achievements of people with disabilities, we validate their rightful place in the workforce and help educate employers, colleagues, and communities about what inclusion really looks like. Today, more workplaces and public places are being built with accessibility and inclusion in mind. With greater awareness, more businesses see the value in making work accessible and inclusive. 

There’s a growing body of evidence that shows inclusion is not just good for the workplace and community, it’s also a smart business strategy. According to a recent study, companies identified as leaders in disability employment saw, on average, 60% higher revenue, 2.6 times more net income, and twice the economic profit compared to their industry peers. In short, when inclusion is prioritized, everyone benefits.  (study is noted in this video, which will be embedded in the final article: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqjnP_nzl2U)

How To Participate

Celebrating NDEAM each October creates space for dialogue, reflection, and action. It encourages organizations to assess their practices, challenge unconscious bias, and commit to building environments where everyone can thrive. While recognition alone doesn’t close the employment gap, it’s an essential step toward removing barriers and helping open opportunities in the workforce to more people, regardless of ability.

There are many ways that individuals and organizations can participate in NDEAM. Action can look like inviting speakers with disabilities to share their experiences; highlighting the work of employees with disabilities within your organization; reviewing hiring practices through a lens of accessibility; examining your physical and digital spaces for barriers; celebrating how inclusion does happen in your organization; and committing to changing how it can be further implemented. 

Image: A group from the organization EFAA participates in a CPWD Disability Etiquette Training.

Disability Etiquette Training is also a powerful tool that can be used during October for NDEAM. Education is one of the most powerful tools we have to shift workplace culture and reduce ableism. CPWD offers Disability Etiquette Training for businesses and organizations. These are engaging and practical workshops designed to help organizations create respectful, welcoming, and inclusive environments.

Through this training, participants learn about inclusive language, respectful communication strategies, and the social model of disability, which frames disability limitations as a mismatch between individuals and inaccessible systems, not a deficit within the person. The training also explores common physical, digital, and attitudinal barriers and offers actionable strategies for removing them, creating more inclusive workspaces

Whether you’re a small business, a public agency, or a large employer, hosting or attending a Disability Etiquette Training is a meaningful and effective way to participate in NDEAM and to lay the foundation for lasting change. Visit our Disability Etiquette Training page to learn more and sign up. 

People with disabilities deserve equal access to all aspects of life, including employment. Through CPWD’s Independent Living Skills training, Youth Employment programs, and Peer Support groups, we work with individuals to build the skills and confidence needed to pursue meaningful work.

We also support businesses and organizations in creating more inclusive environments year-round. We believe that inclusive workplaces benefit everyone: they’re more innovative, more compassionate, and more reflective of the communities they serve.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month gives us a reason to pause and celebrate how far we’ve come, and invite our workplaces to narrow the employment gap for people with disabilities. If we want to close the employment gap, we need to dismantle the structures that created it. If we want to foster equity, we must listen, learn, and lead with intention. When we do, we create a workforce where everyone’s contributions are recognized, and everyone belongs.

Join us this October in celebrating NDEAM and in committing to the future we want to build.