Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month

During October, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) joins the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy in celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).  NDEAM celebrates America’s workers with disabilities and is a time to remind employers of the importance of inclusive hiring practices, particularly as we rebuild our economy. This year’s theme is “America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion.”

In his Presidential Proclamation for National Disability Employment Awareness Month, President Biden stated that this month is a chance for us to recommit ourselves to dismantling barriers to access and inclusion in the workplace. As the President observed, “people with disabilities are still too often marginalized and denied access to the American dream. . . The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded these inequities, as people with disabilities have faced heightened risks.”

Every day, OFCCP works to ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal opportunity in the workplace, and that federal contractors understand their obligation to maintain a disability-inclusive workplace. OFCCP enforces Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and provides federal contractors with technical assistance and guidance on their anti-discrimination and affirmative action obligations under the law. OFCCP also provides contractors with assistance in meeting or exceeding the nationwide goal for ensuring at least seven percent of their workforce comprises persons with disabilities. OFCCP’s initiatives to promote disability inclusion and reasonable accommodations at work include:

• Compliance Assistance—OFCCP provides Compliance Assistance Resources to help organizations comply with Section 503 rules and regulations ensuring equal employment opportunities for all individuals with disabilities. You will find resources such as the Voluntary Self‐Identification of Disability Form and Section 503 frequently asked questions. 

• Promoting recruitment and hiring—OFCCP encourages and facilitates linkage relationships between contractors and community organizations and recruitment resources to support recruitment and hiring of individuals with disabilities. OFCCP’s resources include Best Practices and Resources for effective outreach and recruitment of individuals with disabilities, and an Employment Referral Resource Directory.

• Reasonable Accommodation Pocket Card—The pocket card helps applicants, employees and other interested parties understand the process for requesting a reasonable accommodation.

OFCCP is committed to ensuring people with disabilities have access to quality jobs and advancement opportunities.  OFCCP will continue to ensure federal contractors and subcontractors advance equality and opportunity for all.

You can find more resources about planning your own NDEAM observance, including the official poster in English or Spanish at the “Learn More” link below.