Disability Employment Awareness
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Paving the way for people with disabilities to receive a high-quality education and be prepared to enter the workforce not only benefits people with disabilities directly, but also benefits their families, businesses, and communities. Although inclusive hiring practices that support the contributions of workers with disabilities can benefit the entire workforce, workers with disabilities experience higher rates of unemployment compared to the general population.
In 2023, AIR was recognized as one of the “Best Places to Work for People with Disabilities” by the Disability:IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities.
This year’s recognition month follows a celebration in September of the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Rehabilitation Services Administration Act, the first civil rights legislation protecting disabled people from discrimination.
AIR’s diverse portfolio of work on disability issues provides both expertise and resources to help people with disabilities pursue employment opportunities and gain economic security. The following are examples of AIR’s contributions to generating evidence in support of more equitable employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Related Work
Remembering Judy Heumann
As part of AIR’s journey to becoming an inclusive workplace for all, we hosted a powerful conversation with disability rights advocate Judith “Judy” Heumann on Oct. 18, 2022. This conversation, which included a discussion of ways that organizations can develop a fully inclusive workplace for people with disabilities, spoke volumes about Heumann’s lasting contributions to the field.
Judy Heumann passed away on March 4, 2023.
Related Centers
Center on Knowledge Translation for Disability and Rehabilitation Research
The purpose of the Center on Knowledge Translation for Disability and Rehabilitation Research (KTDRR) is to make it easier to find, understand, and use the results of research that can make a positive impact on the lives of people with disabilities. In collaboration with several national and international partners, KTDRR carries out integrated training, dissemination, utilization, and technical assistance activities.
Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center
The Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC) summarizes research, identifies health information needs, and develops information resources to support programs in meeting the needs of individuals with spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and burn injuries.
Meet the Expert: Kathleen Murphy
Principal Investigator Kathleen Murphy discusses the common misconceptions and barriers that individuals with disabilities face, and how new technologies are opening new doors—while closing others.