EARN Newsletter: October 2024
Celebrating NDEAM, Training for Accessible Interviews, and More!
NDEAM
Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)
Held each October, NDEAM honors the many contributions people with disabilities make to America’s workplaces and economy and showcases inclusive workplace policies that benefit both employers and employees. Each year, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) selects a theme to help employers, disability advocates, and others plan their observances. The theme for 2024 is “Access to Good Jobs for All.”
NDEAM is an opportunity for organizations and businesses of all sizes to showcase their commitment to disability inclusion in the workplace. Check out ODEP’s NDEAM webpage to download this year’s poster and explore key messages, spotlights, and tips for organizations to take action, including a “31 Days of NDEAM” feature with ideas for how to celebrate all month long!
A recent blog post by Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Taryn M. Williams, titled “Advancing Access to Good Jobs for All,” explores the many ways the DOL is working to ensure disabled workers can prepare for and succeed in good jobs, including the millions being generated by the Biden-Harris administration’s historic investments in our nation’s infrastructure.
This year’s NDEAM theme, “Access to Good Jobs for All,” underscores the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to building an opportunity infrastructure and opening the doors of opportunity wider for people with disabilities, making America more equal, accessible, and fair. Check out the President’s 2024 NDEAM proclamation to learn more!
EARN in Action
Providing Accessible Interviews
EARN’s new “Accessible Interviews” online training course explores how to create an interview process that is both accessible and effective for candidates with disabilities. This short course complements and expands upon the information in EARN's Inclusion@Work Framework, which offers guidance on creating a disability-inclusive workplace culture.
Supporting Employees with Substance Use Disorder (SUD)
SUD affects people from all walks of life, working in all types of jobs in businesses across the U.S. Businesses can serve as a significant source of support for people in treatment or recovery. Two new resources developed by EARN in partnership with the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) can help both employers and workers navigate and address SUD in the workplace.
Disability Employment in the News
Increasing Inclusion with Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT) recently launched an "AI & Inclusive Hiring Framework" to help employers use AI tools in a more inclusive way and minimize risk of unintentional discrimination against workers with disabilities. The framework is based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s AI Risk Management Framework and developed with input from disability advocates, AI experts, government and industry leaders, and others.
Examining Disability Inclusion in the Workplace
Nearly 19 million people with disabilities were employed in the U.S., and initiatives to support their success are vital to breaking down barriers and fostering a diverse and welcoming work environment. Based on the results of the National Organization on Disability’s annual Disability Employment Tracker, the “Disability in the Workplace: 2023 Insights Report” examines factors that impact people with disabilities at all stages of employment from recruitment to advancement.
Providing Accommodation Ideas for Workers and Their Employers
DOL, in partnership with JAN, recently launched the “Situations and Solutions Finder.” This tool provides more than 700 examples of workplace accommodations from various organizations of all sizes and in all industries, in both the public and private sectors. Users can filter and save results by disability, limitation, or occupation, making it easier for workers with disabilities and employers to identify effective accommodation ideas.
Ask EARN
Employer Spotlight
Driving Disability Inclusion through Leadership
EARN’s Inclusion@Work Leadership Council comprises leaders from industry groups and professional organizations dedicated to promoting disability inclusion in the workplace. These partners work closely with EARN to identify, develop, and share effective policies and practices that help employers recruit, hire, retain, and advance people with disabilities. Their valuable input helps inform EARN’s resources, webinars, and outreach efforts and guide new initiatives to drive disability inclusion across all industries.
The content in this newsletter does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Good jobs change lives, and all workers—including disabled workers—deserve the opportunity to prepare for, obtain and succeed in them.
Mark Your Calendar
October 22, 2024, 1 p.m. ET
Webinar: Advancing Disability Inclusion in the Legal Profession
People with disabilities comprise less than 2% of practicing lawyers, despite representing about 25% of the U.S. adult population. In this webinar, a panel of experts will explore the challenges the legal profession faces in hiring and retaining legal professionals with disabilities, obstacles to achieving equality, and the roles that law firms, corporate legal departments, government agencies, and law schools can play in reducing disparities.
Register for Disability:IN’s webinar.
October 24, 2024, 2 p.m. ET
NDEAM 2024 Event: Good Jobs Change Lives: Helping Disabled Workers Get Ahead
Investing in America’s workers means building an economy from the bottom up and middle out with a workforce that includes people with disabilities. The Biden-Harris administration and DOL are committed to ensuring access to good jobs for everyone, including people with disabilities. In celebration of NDEAM, the department is hosting an event titled, “Good Jobs Change Lives: Helping Disabled Workers Get Ahead,” to inform employers in key industries, such as infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy, about the impact of the Investing in America agenda and the opportunities it is creating for both employers and disabled workers. You will not want to miss this event on October 24, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET.
Register for USDOL’s NDEAM 2024 event.
November Observance
National Family Caregivers Month
November is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s caregivers, commit to providing them with the tools they need to be successful, and advocate for mental health support for them and those for whom they care. Celebrate this observance and learn more about how to participate with ideas from Mental Health America.
Learn about National Family Caregivers Month.
November Observance
National Native American Heritage Month
Each November, we celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of Indigenous people, including Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and affiliated Island communities, including people within those communities who identify as having a disability. Learn more about this annual observance.
Learn about National Native American Heritage Month.