Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Mon, 09/30/2019 - 11:50am | By: Van Arnold

The University of Southern Mississippi Institute for Disability Studies (IDS) has scheduled a series of activities in conjunction with National Disability Employment Awareness Month, an annual awareness campaign that takes place each October.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month is designed to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. This year’s national theme is "The Right Talent, Right Now." The Institute for Disability Studies’ theme for this year is “Preparing Mississippi Leaders Now,” with youth and young adults as the primary focus.

IDS activities include:

• National Disability Mentoring Day Job Shadowing Event on Oct. 16 in Hattiesburg
• “Uniquely You” Self-Advocacy Event on Oct. 18 in Long Beach
• Take Your Legislator to Work Day Event on Oct. 21 in Hattiesburg
• Daily employment-focused Facebook posts throughout the month (https://www.facebook.com/msusmids/).

All of this year’s events are a collaboration with the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services, funder of the Transition of Teens to Adult Life (ToTAL) Program, which is a work-based training and internship program for teens and young adults with disabilities ages 14 to 21.

"The Institute for Disability Studies is proud to be a part of this year's National Disability Employment Awareness Month," said Dr. Jerry R. Alliston, Associate Director. "We want to spread the important message that we value all perspectives, including those of individuals with disabilities. We are preparing youth and young adults with disabilities to be Mississippi leaders now for employment and more."

The history of National Disability Employment Awareness Month dates 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.

"Every day, individuals with disabilities add significant value and talent to our workforce and economy," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. "Individuals with disabilities offer employers diverse perspectives on how to tackle challenges and achieve success. Individuals with disabilities have the right talent, right now."

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.

For more information, contact Dr. Jerry R. Alliston at 601.266.5979 or jerry.allistonFREEMississippi.  Visit the website at www.usm.edu/ids.