It’s here! National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) kicked off on October 1. How are

you celebrating? The 2019 NDEAM theme is “The Right Talent, Right Now.”

The history of National Disability Employment Awareness Month traces back to 1945 when Congress

enacted a law declaring the first week in October each year “National Employ the Physically Handicapped

Week.” In 1962, the word “physically” was removed to acknowledge the employment needs and

contributions of 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.

Summit is proud to support National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Held each

October, NDEAM aims to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied

contributions of America’s workers with disabilities.

NDEAM is led by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), but

its true spirit lies in the many observances held at the grassroots level across the nation every year.

The Campaign for Disability Employment encourages organizations of all sizes and in all industries to

participate in NDEAM.

Employers and employees in all industries can learn more about how to participate in National Disability

Employment Awareness Month and ways they can promote its messages — during October and

throughout the year — by visiting www.dol.gov/NDEAM.