The Amputee Coalition recently announced its participation in an awareness campaign for National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
National Disability Employment Awareness Month takes place annually in October and provides education regarding disability employment issues in the United States as well as the accomplishments of workers with disabilities. This theme this year is “My disability is one part of who I am.”
“The Amputee Coalition is proud to be a part of this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month,” Susan Stout, president and chief executive officer of the Amputee Coalition, stated in a press release. “We want to spread the important message that we value the diverse perspectives, including those of individuals with disabilities.”
According to the release, the first version of National Disability Employment Awareness Month was declared in 1945, when Congress declared the first week in October each year as “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.” In 1962, the campaign was broadened by dropping the word “physically” to include individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
“This year’s theme encapsulates the important message that people with disabilities are just that — people,” Jennifer Sheehy, acting assistant secretary of labor for the Office of Disability Employment Policy, stated in the release. “And like all people, we are the sum of many parts, including our work experiences. Disability is an important perspective we bring to the table, but, of course, it’s not the only one.”
For more information or to participate in National Disability Employment Awareness Month, visit dol.gov/ndeam.
Reference: www.amputee-coalition.org.
