Gov. Bill Haslam

Washington, D.C., Oct. 12 – Gov. Bill Haslam has officially proclaimed October as Disability Employment Awareness Month in Tennessee.

“People with disabilities in Tennessee share with the state’s other six million residents the desire to achieve personal success and economic self-sufficiency through meaningful work in the communities,” said Gov. Haslam in the proclamation. “Every person, regardless of ability, has valuable strengths, infinite capacity to learn, and the potential to make important contributions to their local communities.”

This proclamation comes after a year of steady job growth for people with disabilities. Last year, 7,191 people with disabilities gained job in Tennessee.

Activities throughout the month should reflect the message that people with and without disabilities share the same workplace goals and values. According to Gov. Haslam, these values and goals are “embracing systems change and achieving several milestones resulting in jobs in community settings at competitive wages.” [continue reading…]

Gov. Larry Hogan

Washington, D.C., Oct. 12 – Gov. Larry Hogan signed a proclamation officially making October Disability Employment Awareness Month in Maryland.

“Disability Employment Awareness Month is an opportunity to recognize the contributions of workers with disabilities,” said Gov. Hogan in the proclamation. “Through local and national campaigns we create greater awareness of the talents and skills individuals with disabilities bring to their employers.”

This proclamation follows a year of steady job growth in Maryland. Last year, 5,944 people with disabilities got new jobs.

Activities throughout the month should reflect the message that people with and without disabilities share the same workplace goals and values. According to Gov. Hogan, Maryland is “dedicated to the principles of the Americans with Disabilities Act, particularly as it relates to the rights and freedom for people with disabilities to work and advance their chosen careers and lead independent and full lives in their communities.” [continue reading…]

Gov. David Ige

Washington, D.C., Oct. 12 – Gov. David Ige has proclaimed October 2018 to be Disability Employment Awareness Month in Hawai’i.

“People with disabilities are productive and loyal, and deserve the same opportunity to earn an income and achieve independence like anyone else,” writes Gov. Ige in the proclamation. “The State of Hawai’i has a vested interest in increasing the inclusion of people living with a disability by providing access, meaningful services, and improved outcomes for all citizens at the state, county, local, and private sector levels.”

This commitment from the governor comes at a time when jobs for people with disabilities have been increasing in the state of Hawai’i. Last year, 750 Hawaiians with disabilities gained jobs.

Activities throughout the month should reflect the message that people with and without disabilities share the same workplace goals and values. On Oct. 30, the state legislature will be cosponsoring a reverse employment fair that sets people up for entry level jobs while celebrating success stories. [continue reading…]

Gov. John Hickenlooper

Washington, D.C. Oct 11 – Gov. John Hickenlooper has declared October as Disability Employment Awareness Month in Colorado.

“It is a time to raise public awareness about disability employment issues and celebrate the many contributions of people with disabilities,” write Hickenlooper in the Proclamation. “People with disabilities are the sum of many parts, including their work experiences. Their disability is an important perspective that they bring to the workforce, but it is not the only one.”

The Gov. went on to add that “Colorado employers that connect with this often untapped community are making a valuable investment. It is an investment that provides a pipeline of skilled workers.”

This proclamation comes after a year of job growth among people with disabilities in Colorado. Last year, 14,846 Coloradans with disabilities got new jobs. [continue reading…]

36 Governors and President Trump Make New Commitments on Jobs for People with Disabilities, Celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Washington D.C., Oct. 25 – October marks the 72^nd celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This year, people with disabilities and employers have clear reason to celebrate. More than 343,000 Americans with disabilities got new jobs last year, a fourfold improvement in job gains compared to the previous year.

To mark this celebration, President Donald J. Trump issued a statement affirming his Administration’s “support for all the employers who hire Americans with disabilities, providing opportunities for success. It is important that all our Nation’s job seekers and creators are both empowered and motivated to partake in our booming economy, and apply their unique talents and skills to the growing workforce.”

He added, “We recognize the achievements of Americans with disabilities whose contributions in the workforce help ensure the strength of our Nation. We also renew our commitment to creating an environment of opportunity for all Americans and educating people about disability employment issues.”

Expanding employment opportunities is nonpartisan, as both Democrats and Republicans are quick to recognize the abilities of what people with disabilities can accomplish. This year, 36 Governors have shown their support through public proclamations, executive orders and press statements. These include:

[continue reading…]

Andy Imparato with RespectAbility Staff and Fellows

Rockville, Maryland, Oct. 9 – Andy Imparato, Executive Director of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, spoke to RespectAbility Fellows about disability policy and his own experience with Bipolar Disorder.

When asked by a Fellow about making an impact in a politically active, bustling city like Washington, D.C., Imparato replied, “Every individual has the capacity to make a difference.”

To do so, he spoke about three major themes to changing the scope of disability policy and advocacy: updating federal legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ensuring workers know their rights under law, and breaking the stigma by being open with disabilities in the workplace. All of these steps, he argued, are crucial to changing the way we think, debate and formulate disability policy. [continue reading…]

Gov. Steve Bullock

Washington, D.C., Oct. 8 – Gov. Steve Bullock has declared October as Disability Employment Awareness Month in Montana.

“This coming month is an opportunity to celebrate the strong work ethic and talents that employees with disabilities bring to our communities, our economy, and our nation,” writes Bullock in the proclamation. “Welcoming the talents of all people, including people with disabilities, is a critical part of our efforts to build an inclusive community and stronger economy.”

This proclamation follows a solid year of job growth among Montanans with disabilities. Last year, 4,459 Montanans with disabilities got new jobs.

Activities throughout the month should reflect the message that people with and without disabilities share the same workplace goals and values. According to Gov. Bullock, these values and goals are “to achieve personal success through education, meaningful work, and connections with our families and communities.” [continue reading…]

Gov. Jeff Colyer

Washington D.C., Oct. 8 – Gov. Jeff Colyer has declared October as Disability Employment Awareness Month in Kansas.

“Every person has value and giving individuals with disabilities opportunities for meaningful employmentempowers them toward self-sufficiency and a greater sense of personal growth,” said Gov. Jeff Colyer. “I am pleased to see that our state continues to improve its ranking in this very important area, and I hope to continue to see more and more employers finding ways to create employment opportunities for Kansans with disabilities.”

This proclamation comes after a year of job growth among people with disabilities in Kansas and nationwide. Last year, under Gov. Colyer, 5,130 Kansans with disabilities got new jobs. [continue reading…]

Vivian Bass with RespectAbility Staff and Fellows

Rockville, Maryland, Oct. 8 – After a successful career of more than 40 years as a nonprofit CEO, Vivian Bass, currently a board member of RespectAbility, visited the Fellows of RespectAbility’s National Leadership Program.  She shared her knowledge about nonprofit boards and gave advice on how to build better relationships between staff and board members.

As the former CEO of the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes, she has contributed greatly to the disability community, so it was only natural that she was one of our speakers. As young professionals, we still are navigating the workforce, struggling with networking and negotiating workplace conflicts. According to Bass, there are five characteristics that strengthen the bond between staff and board members in a nonprofit: mutual respect, no surprises, transparency, accountability and partnership. [continue reading…]