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October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which acknowledges the contributions of employees with disabilities in the workforce. The U.S. Department of Labor observes the NDEAM each October to acknowledge the contributions to the nation’s economy made by workers with current or past disabilities. The commemoration also showcases supportive and inclusive policies and practices benefiting workers and employers (ODEP, 2022). NDEAM’s objectives include raising awareness about disability employment issues and highlighting organizations that intentionally include and engage individuals with disabilities as part of their workforce.
The theme for NDEAM 2022 is “Disability: Part of the Equity Equation,” to recognize the important role people with disabilities play in a diverse and inclusive American workforce. Disability employment is also becoming a key topic in equity conversations.
Did you know?
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as of May 2022, 1 in 4 adults in Indiana have a disability (CDC, 2022).
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022) reports that for 2021, 19% of individuals with disabilities were employed, compared to 64% of individuals without disabilities.
- The unemployment rate for persons with a disability is about twice that of persons who do not have a disability (10% compared to 5%).
Employers have created numerous barriers for employment for people with disabilities
- Discrimination and lack of transportation are both historic and current barriers for persons with disabilities in the workplace. The Americans with Disabilities Act was created to improve those experiences, but many people with disabilities continue to report lack of workplace accommodations.
- Historically, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities were institutionalized, provided unpaid work or in sheltered workshops. Sheltered workshops pay less than minimum wage and segregate people with disabilities from the rest of the workforce. FSSA’s Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services has been working to transition sheltered workshops across the state to provide supportive employment.
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Hiring individuals with disabilities makes sense
According to Forbes Magazine, hiring people with disabilities:
- Leads to lower staff turnover. People with disabilities tend to have higher retention rates because they seek long-term stability and reliable employment when looking for work.
- Improves company morale and overall culture. Hiring and retaining employees with disabilities fosters an inclusive and empathetic workplace which can influence how customers and employees feel about the organization. Further, providing employees with disabilities the opportunity to lead is integral and can help improve overall work culture “from the top down” (Herson, 2021).
The Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services supports Hoosiers with disabilities across the life span
- First Steps works with children from birth to their third birthday who are experiencing developmental delays and/or have a diagnosed condition that has a high probability of resulting in developmental delay.
- Bureau of Developmental Disability Services administers programs that support children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live their best life through community supports and residential options, using a person-centered approach where all people have equal access and opportunity.
- Vocational Rehabilitation helps eligible individuals with disabilities to achieve their employment goals through training and preparation, career exploration, job-related services, and supported employment.
- Blind & Visually Impaired Services helps eligible Hoosiers who are blind or visually impaired.
- Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services helps identify and find resources to meet the needs of deaf and hard of hearing individuals and their families, throughout the state of Indiana.
- Indiana Independent Living Services Program hosts the Centers for Independent Living, also known as CILs, and the Indiana Statewide Independent Living Council known as INSILC. Independent living philosophy emphasizes consumer control, the idea that people with disabilities are the best experts on their own needs, having crucial and valuable perspective to contribute and deserving of equal opportunity to decide how to live, work and take part in their communities, particularly in reference to services that powerfully affect their day-to-day lives and access to independence.
- Another FSSA division, the Disability Determination Bureau, checks eligibility for Social Security and supplemental income for adults and children with disabilities..
How can I help to support employment and quality of life for individuals with disabilities?
The Job Accommodation Network offers a look at working trends and benefits and concerns to modified working arrangements to meet the needs of employees with disabilities. To support fellow and future employees with disabilities:
- Promote awareness that people with disabilities are just people. “The biggest barrier people with disabilities encounter is other people.” (Disabled World, 2022)
- Educate yourself on disability etiquette. To learn more, visit the disability etiquette website by Job Accommodation Network.
- Support Employment First Initiatives. The Indiana Chapter of the Association of People for Supported Employment is a membership organization that promotes and expands quality, community employment outcomes of choice for all people with disabilities, including working with employers on accommodations. To learn more and engage with INAPSE, visit their website.
- Become an advocate for individuals with disabilities. Connect with organizations like The Arc Indiana to get involved in important advocacy work for Hoosiers with disabilities! For more information, visit The Arc website.
- Get involved with community and agency partners. When learning how to best support an individual with disabilities, the best way to learn is to work directly with individuals who have disabilities. Indiana has several advocacy groups and agencies that assist in removing barriers in the lives of individuals with disabilities so they can work in the profession of their choice, start a family, or participate in their community.
- Create an inclusive and inviting work culture through universal design. Creating an inclusive and diverse workplace will create a workplace that everyone will enjoy. Universal design is just that, creating a setting that is accessible to universally everyone. Attending trainings to improve digital accessibility and learning appropriate etiquette is just the beginning.
- Supervisors can balance needs, life and employment of an individual with disabilities. Provide alternative work practices and encourage open and productive dialogue with human resource staff, supervisors and managers within the agency. Communicate to find alternate ways for an employee to perform a job. This can include helping to address transportation barriers for those who do not or cannot drive, providing a quiet and encouraging workspace for individuals who are neurodiverse, or considering accessible parking, and flex time for individuals whose mobility is affected by daily temperature changes.
Helpful links
- ADA Indiana Transportation Information and Resources Transportation is often a significant barrier for individuals with disabilities.
- AskJan Accommodation Search Job Accommodation Network is a wealth of information!
- Charting the LifeCourse Nexus The Charting the LifeCourse framework was developed by families to help individuals with disabilities and families at any age or stage of life develop a vision for a good life, think about what they need to know and do, identify how to find or develop supports, and discover what it takes to live the lives they want to live.
- Disabling Ableism: The Modern Pathway to Inclusion
- Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities The Indiana Governor's Council is an independent state agency that facilitates change. Our mission is to advance the independence, productivity and inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of society. This mission is accomplished through planning, evaluation, collaboration, education, research and advocacy.
- Indiana Disability Resource Finder
- RespectAbility is a diverse, disability-led nonprofit that works to create systemic change in how society views and values people with disabilities, and that advances policies and practices that empower people with disabilities to have a better future.
- Work to Include is a coalition of people with dis disabilities and family members to promote Employment First. The project is funded by the Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities.
References
Disabled World. (2022, April 5). Disability awareness: Information, programs and event dates.