EARN Newsletter: October 2026

Plus: Watch our webinar on substance use disorder at work and check out a new suicide prevention resource.

EARN in Action

National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2026

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and we have much to celebrate. The latest workforce data show that working-age Americans with disabilities are seeking and finding jobs in record-high numbers—a huge milestone in a landmark year. We’re also marking our nation’s 250^th birthday and the 25^th anniversary of the Office of Disability Employment Policy. Visit EARN’s 2026 NDEAM webpage for tips on how you can join in “Celebrating Value and Talent!”

NDEAM Webcast: Understanding Workplace Accommodations

There’s no better time than NDEAM to get smart about workplace accommodations. On October 22, EARN joined the Job Accommodation Network for a webinar: “Understanding Workplace Accommodations: Practical Strategies for Requesting and Responding.” Whether you’re a job seeker, current employee, service provider, or employer, you’ll hear strategies for handling accommodations requests and collaborating on solutions with confidence.

Webinar Recording: Substance Use Disorder at Work

Last month, EARN hosted the webinar “Substance Use Disorder at Work: Building Recovery-Friendly and Safety-Ready Workplaces” to help employers support employee recovery while protecting workplace safety. Guests from the Center for Construction Research and Training and the Missouri Works Initiative shared strategies that employers can adapt for their own organizations. The recording is available now.

In Case You Missed It

New Learning Guide: Suicide Prevention in the Workplace

Let’s turn awareness into action. EARN’s new learning guide equips employers with the tools they need to support mental health and help prevent suicide in the workplace. The resource offers guidance for recognizing suicide warning signs and gives five key tips for supporting mental health in the workplace, including comprehensive training for managers, compassionate communication, and strong connections to employee support before a crisis occurs.

In the News

NDEAM 2026: Celebrating Value & Talent — A Milestone Conversation

You’re invited to enjoy the U.S. Department of Labor’s exciting virtual event recognizing NDEAM and honoring the 25^th anniversary of the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). ODEP’s Assistant Secretary Julie Hocker spoke with special guests, including leaders from the Labor Department and the White House, about the nation’s record-high employment rates of working-age disabled Americans and what we can do to sustain the momentum. Among the wide-ranging strategies: fostering recovery-friendly workplaces, advancing financial independence, and harnessing super intelligence to unlock new opportunities. During the event, Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling also announced a new prize competition for American technology and workforce innovators.

We Are at Work: Celebrating Value and Talent

Americans with disabilities are helping power our nation’s economic comeback and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) is committed to sustaining that momentum. Key strategies include harnessing emerging technologies to strengthen recruitment and career advancement, helping employers build supportive workplaces where workers can thrive, and equipping workers with the tools to earn and save for a secure financial future. Learn more in this National Disability Employment Awareness Month statement by ODEP Assistant Secretary Julie Hocker.

Career Track Challenge

Calling all American innovators, developers, and entrepreneurs! The U.S. Department of Labor’s Career Track Challenge offers an opportunity to develop and implement technology and super intelligence (SI) solutions that connect Americans with disabilities to skills, training, resources, and job opportunities that meet their individual needs, right in their own communities. Through the challenge, the department plans to award close to $2 million in funding to help teams turn the most promising ideas into real-world solutions. Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling launched the challenge as part of the department’s virtual National Disability Employment Awareness Month event on Oct. 16.

Spotlight Q&A

ODEP 25^th Anniversary

In recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and the Office of Disability Employment Policy’s (ODEP) 25^th anniversary, EARN sat down with Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Julie Hocker to reflect on ODEP’s impact across the American workforce. She discusses how workers with disabilities are helping drive American industry, the vital role employers play in creating opportunities, and her vision for the next 25 years. Read the Q&A below and visit ODEP’s website, explore resources for celebrating NDEAM, and learn more about Assistant Secretary Hocker.

Q: ODEP is celebrating its 25^th anniversary this year. So, let's start with a reflection. How does the way we talk about disability and employment now differ from when ODEP was established? Has the conversation changed?

A: Absolutely, and I think it's one of the most important changes we've seen over the past 25 years...

Continue to the Full Q&A

EARN is fully funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy under Cooperative Agreement No. 23475OD000002-01-00 with Cornell University's Yang-Tan Institute on Employment and Disability, in the amount of $11,000,000.

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.