Honoring Disabilities Employment Awareness Month
October 17, 2024
Right now or at any time – ongoing access to work and vocation for individuals served
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)! Held each October NDEAM traces its beginnings to 1945 when Congress, recognizing the employment challenges faced by World War II veterans, established a week-long observance. Over the past 79 years, this initiative has evolved into a month-long national campaign.
Today, NDEAM shines a spotlight on the persistent barriers people with disabilities face in finding sustainable employment, while also celebrating their significant contributions to our workforce and economy.
In Minnesota Minnesotans with disabilities age 16 and older make up about 12.9% of the total population but only 5.8% of the employed population. Nationwide, Americans with disabilities comprise 15.1% of the total population and 6.6% of the employed population.
There are many myths about people with disabilities and employment. The biggest of these might be that people with disabilities don’t want to work. In reality an International Labor Organization (ILO) study found that two-thirds of unemployed respondents with disabilities wanted to work but could not find jobs. The desire to work exists but the opportunity to do so is not always there.
This year’s NDEAM theme, “Access to good jobs for all,” highlights the ongoing need for equal employment opportunities in our society.
Homeward Bound partners with a number of wonderful organizations that support our residents with disabilities in their employment and vocational pursuits. Whether right now or at any time, HBI residents are provided ongoing access to work and vocation that fits their needs.
Infact, one of the routine questions that HBI team members ask individuals as they enter an HBI home as a new resident and throughout their life at HBI is about their interest in work. As life changes occur sometimes so does employment and vocational goals so HBI is constantly assessing each individual using our person-centered lens.
At Homeward Bound we look at employment as a critical leg on a three-legged stool that balances (1) the variety of services an individual needs, (2) their housing from a holistic perspective and (3) the often significantly important employment or vocational goals a person has. Using the three-legged stool metaphor reminds us of the need to consider multiple dimensions of life in a balanced way maintaining a person-centered approach that keeps individuals working successfully toward or maintaining at the ideal they see for themself as a human and a member of their community.
Cheers to NDEAM24 and National Disability Employment Awareness Month!
Author: Rob Edwards, CEO
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