National Disability Employment Awareness Month

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

What is it?

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which recognizes people with disabilities in the workforce and helps provide education on and raise awareness of the employment of people with disabilities and the benefit they can bring to the workplace.

Below are the disability employment statistics for the United States as of August 2011:

Labor Force Participation

People with disabilities: 21.0%
People without disabilities: 69.9%

Unemployment Rate

People with disabilities: 16.1%
People without disabilities: 8.8%

What does it mean for me?

Whether you are a person with a disability, a family member, an elected official or an advocate, October is a time to promote the hiring of people with disabilities.

Read the Presidential Proclamation for National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Information for Job Seekers

Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)

Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS)

"Finding a Job" - Disability.gov - Resources on where to find a job and organizations that can help you.

"Career Planning" - Disability.gov - Information on career counseling and how to prepare for a job search.

Partners in Employment - a self-study course to help you prepare for a job search and learn some important skills.

Resources for Employers

Employer Disability Resource Network - Iowa resource for recruitment and retention of employees with disabilities.

Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)

Diversifying Your Workforce (ODEP)
Interviewing Applicants with Disabilities (ODEP)

“Employer Resources” – Disability.gov - How to recruit, hire and retain people with disabilities within your workforce.

Job Accommodation Network - Ask questions about workplace accommodations or other questions about hiring a person with a disability.