For Immediate Release
10/01/2021
Contact: David Card
202.408.9514 x122
[email protected]
WASHINGTON, DC – In recognition of the beginning of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) calls on Congress, the Administration, and state policy leaders to work toward the employment of people with disabilities in jobs that pay a competitive wage and are integrated. NDEAM is an annual awareness campaign that takes place each October. Led by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, the purpose of the month is to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities.
NDRN has a long history of supporting and advocating for greater inclusion of people with disabilities in the workforce. Despite the strides made over the years, too many people with disabilities remain unemployed or stuck in “dead-end “jobs” that pay them less than the minimum wage. Our members, the nationwide network of Protection and Advocacy (P&A) and Client Assistance Program (CAP) agencies work every day to change these outcomes.
“The strength of our nation’s economy and workforce lies in its diversity, which includes people with disabilities,” said NDRN Executive Director Curt Decker. “As we commemorate this month, we must acknowledge both the gains that have been made by workers with disabilities but also remember the work that is left to be done to attain an inclusive American workforce.”
NDRN is proud throughout National Disability Employment Awareness Month to highlight both the contributions of people with disabilities and the policies that can be implemented to improve employment outcomes. Employees, employers, advocates, policymakers, and others can take action and learn more about NDRN’s employment activities, initiatives, and stories by visiting https://www.ndrn.org/resource/ndeam/.
# # #
The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and the Client Assistance Programs (CAP) for individuals with disabilities. Collectively, the P&A/CAP Network is the largest provider of legally based advocacy services to people with disabilities in the United States.
