National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2009 theme:
Expectation + Opportunity = Full Participation
The Office of Disability Employment Policy explains their choice for this year's theme on their website:
"This year’s theme for National Disability Employment Month captures the vital role that expectations play in our successes as individuals and as a society. We must ensure that both people with disabilities and their employers expect that they will fully participate in our workplaces.
"Such an expectation alone, however, is not enough. They must also have opportunity. People with disabilities need access to a full range of employment choices to maximize their talents.
"With both the expectation and opportunity, people with disabilities will become full participants in our economy."
On September 30th, 2009, the President released a statement entitled "National Disability Employment Awareness Month, 2009." In this address he states "fair access to employment is a fundamental right of every American, including the 54 million people in this country living with disabilities," and that this month is a time for us to recommit to creating effective policies and opportunities for individuals with disabilities. He explains how the current administration is focused on promoting positive changes for every American and urges America to "celebrate the contributions of individuals with disabilities to our workplaces and communities."
October is the highlight of the year for the Disability Community, but things are looking even brighter with the increased funding President Obama refers to in his address. He says "the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act substantially increased funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and provided more than $500 million for vocational rehabilitation services, including job training, education, and placement."
Things are looking up for the community!
Resources:
Employment Resources for the Disability Community:
- Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP): provides national leadership on disability employment policy by developing and influencing the use of evidence-based disability employment policies and practices, building collaborative partnerships, and delivering authoritative and credible data on employment of people with disabilities.
- Disability.gov provides easy access to comprehensive disability-related information and resources.
For those who want learn about disabilities, tips for social etiquette and encourage positive interactions:
- "Access and Opportunities: A Guide to Disability Awareness" is a valuable resorce in beginning to understand people with disabilities. This guide was compiled by VSA arts, an international nonprofit organization is dedicated to helping create a society where people with disabilities learn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts.
- It includes updated information on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as well as recent information about specific disabilities
- It also includes a chapter on the history of the disability movement to give readers a more complete understanding of the issues surrounding the disability community.
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