National Disability Employment Awareness Month in Arkansas #1

Home / Blog / National Disability Employment Awareness Month in Arkansas #1

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and Arkansas had a great first week celebrating inclusive employment.

On October 1st, Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) Arkansas members and staff joined Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS) at the State Capitol for the Arkansas NDEAM kickoff event, along with Lt. Governor Tim Griffin, DisabilityIN, the Arkansas Department of Human Services, the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services, other state agencies, inclusive employers, employees/self-advocates, supported employment service providers and other community partners. Governor Hutchinson issued a proclamation designating October 2019 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month in Arkansas. Council members Alan McClain (ARS Commissioner) and Mark George spoke to attendees about the importance of inclusion in the workforce. Self-advocate, Mahu Nadeem, shared how being employed in the community keeps her busy and independent. Participants ended the event with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, declaring Arkansas “open for business” as a community that values the contributions of people with disabilities in the workforce, in both the private sector and state government.

[Photo Description: This is an image of a ribbon cutting ceremony in the Arkansas State Capitol building. A group of women and men are standing in a line, holding a black ribbon that says "National Disability Employment Awareness Month" in white letters, while a man in the middle of the group holds a large pair of scissors near the ribbon.] — [Photo Description: This is an image of a ribbon cutting ceremony in the Arkansas State Capitol building. A group of women and men are standing in a line, holding a black ribbon that says “National Disability Employment Awareness Month” in white letters, while a man in the middle of the group holds a large pair of scissors near the ribbon.]

In an Op-Ed to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, ARS Commissioner McClain wrote “A state’s backbone is its economy, having a profound effect on every citizen. A strong, stable work force is the basis of a healthy economy, and that work force must be an inclusive one where people with skills and talent, including individuals with disabilities, can thrive.” You can access a copy of McClain’s Op-Ed by clicking here.

NDEAM celebrates the contributions of workers with disabilities and employers who practice inclusive hiring, emphasizing the value of an integrated workforce. Inclusive policies and practices ensure that all Americans who want to work can work and have access to services and supports to enable them to do so. With continued advances in such supports, including accessible technology, it is easier than ever before for America’s employers to hire people with disabilities.

The theme for the 2019 National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is “The Right Talent, Right Now”. This theme emphasizes the essential role that people with disabilities play in America’s economic success, especially in an era when historically low unemployment and global competition are creating a high demand for skilled talent.

The background of the 2019 NDEAM poster is purple with the theme, The Right Talent, Right Now, in white letters staggered down the upper left side. Below the theme, also in white letters, are the words National Disability Employment Awareness Month, hashtag NDEAM slash dol.gov/odep. Dol.gov/odep is the address of ODEP's website. The very bottom of the left side is DOL's seal with the words Office of Disability Employment Policy and United States Department of Labor to its right. The right side of the poster shows five images of employees with disabilities working in inclusive workplaces. — [Image Description: The background of the 2019 NDEAM poster is purple with the theme, The Right Talent, Right Now, in white letters staggered down the upper left side. Below the theme, also in white letters, are the words National Disability Employment Awareness Month, hashtag NDEAM slash dol.gov/odep. Dol.gov/odep is the address of ODEP’s website. The very bottom of the left side is DOL’s seal with the words Office of Disability Employment Policy and United States Department of Labor to its right. The right side of the poster shows five images of employees with disabilities working in inclusive workplaces.]

According to Eric Munson, Executive Director of GCDD Arkansas, “Competitive, integrated employment is a key part of living a meaningful and inclusive life in the community for Arkansans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). However, many people with I/DD remain either unemployed or underemployed despite their ability, desire, and willingness to work. The Governor’s Council believes that people with I/DD should have the supports necessary – from individuals and systems – to enable them to find and keep jobs based on their preferences, interests, and strengths and be free from workplace discrimination. For people with disabilities, having competitive, integrated employment means working alongside people without disabilities and receiving comparable wages. People with I/DD live, learn, and work in every part of our state. Just like you, they are interested in a better future.”

For more information on competitive, integrated employment and on NDEAM, check out the following resources:

US Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)
https://www.dol.gov/odep/

Office of Disability Employment Policy
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Ave NW
Washington DC 20210

Phone: 1-866-ODEP-DOL (633-7365) or 202-693-7880

Email: odep@dol.gov

ODEP’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) Campaign
https://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/ndeam/

ODEP’s Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE)
https://www.whatcanyoudocampaign.org/

ODEP’s Workforce Recruitment Program
https://www.dol.gov/odep/wrp/

ODEP’s Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN)
http://www.askearn.org/

ODEP’s Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
https://askjan.org/

ODEP’s Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT)
https://www.peatworks.org/

ADA National Network Regional Centers: The ADA National Network consists of ten regional ADA Centers located throughout the U.S. that provide information, guidance and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to employers, state and local governments, people with disabilities and others.
https://adata.org/find-your-region

APSE (The Association of People Supporting Employment First): The national voice of the Employment First movement. APSE believes in real jobs for real pay for all people with disabilities: Employment First.
https://apse.org/

Arkansas APSE
https://apse.org/chapter/arkansas/

Arkansas Employment First
https://dhs.arkansas.gov/dds/employment1stweb/#emp1-home

Disability:IN
https://disabilityin.org/

Disability:IN Arkansas
https://disabilityin.org/affiliate/arkansas/
Mission: We provide education and training, information and resources and engagement opportunities to business and industry regarding retaining, hiring and promoting people with disabilities.

GCDD Staff

About the Arkansas Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities

The Council is a federally funded state agency that promotes integration, inclusion and independence for Arkansans with developmental disabilities. Council members are self-advocates, relatives and/or caregivers of individuals with DD, state agency directors, and representation from nonprofit and private organizations. The Council works to encourage self-advocacy; to remove barriers to information, services and support; to advocate for policy changes; to develop and support coalitions; and to educate community leaders. For more information about the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities and its mission, browse more pages on this website GCDD.arkansas.gov, or call 501-682-2897. Follow the Council on Facebook and Twitter @gcddar. You can also find Arkansas GCDD on YouTube.