Access to Good Jobs for All
Observed each October, during National Disability Employment Awareness Month, or “NDEAM,” we celebrate the value and talent workers with disabilities add to America’s workplaces and economy. NDEAM’s purpose is to confirm our commitment to ensuring disabled workers have access to good jobs, every month of every year. That’s the spirit behind this year’s official theme: “Access to Good Jobs for All.”
The United States first set aside a week to recognize the contributions of people with physical disabilities in 1945. In 1988, the U.S. Congress created National Disability Employment Awareness Month to acknowledge the importance of increasing the number of people with disabilities in the workforce.
“Not too long ago, a person with a disability in America could be denied employment because of their disability,” said President Biden in a proclamation opening this year’s observance of NDEAM. “America’s economy is stronger when every American has an opportunity to thrive and contribute meaningfully. During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we honor the incredible contributions of disabled Americans to our country and economy. And we recommit to opening the doors of opportunity wider for people with disabilities, making our nation more equal, accessible, and fair.”
During October, the University of Pittsburgh will offer a number of activities designed to celebrate NDEAM and the contribution of employees, including those with unseen disabilities.
| Event | Date | Time | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office Hours: OEDI | Oct. 8 | 2 to 3:30 p.m. | OEDI, 18th Floor, Cathedral of Learning. To signup, email DRSRECEP@pitt.edu. | Have questions about the University’s continued commitment to accessibility? Want to discuss ways that you can advance accessibility on campus? Have an accessibility issue or opportunity? Schedule a meeting with Clyde Wilson Pickett, the University’s chief diversity officer and vice chancellor for equity, diversity, and inclusion, during office hours. |
| Access Your Power: Voting Rights and Accommodations for People with Disabilities | Oct. 9 | 12 noon | Location: Zoom Webinar | As a person with a disability, voting is your fundamental right, and equal access and accommodations are protected by federal laws. Join Disability Rights PA to discuss your rights, how to prepare as a person with a disability and what accommodations are available. Learn how to access your powers in the upcoming election! |
| Creating an Inclusive and Accommodating Workplace Environment | Oct. 15 | 12 noon | Location: Zoom Webinar | This session is designed to provide participants with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to create a supportive and accessible work environment where individuals with disabilities can thrive and contribute their full potential. |
| Navigating Employment: Panel Discussion with Pitt Faculty and Staff with Disabilities | Oct. 22 | 12 noon | Location: Zoom Webinar | The panel discussion will feature University employees, including faculty and staff from various roles, who will share their experiences of navigating employment with a disability. |
| From Amateur to Advocate: An Accessibility Journey | Oct. 30 | 12 noon | Location: Zoom Webinar | Hear from staff from across the university who have taken on the charge of improving digital accessibility for the university community. Learn about what inspired them, how they grew their skills and knowledge, as well as advice they have for those just starting on the journey. |