October is nationally designated as Disability Employment Awareness Month. National Disability Employment Awareness Month was declared in 1988 by the United States Congress to raise awareness of the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. The month is an extension of “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week” originally observed during the first week of October beginning in 1945.
The United States observes National Disability Employment Awareness Month by paying tribute to the accomplishments of the men and women with disabilities whose work helps keep the nation’s economy strong and by reaffirming their commitment to ensure equal opportunity for all citizens.
The U.S. Department of Labor has announced the theme for 2021 National Disability Employment Awareness Month is “America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion.”
- 21.3% of people with disabilities participated in the national labor force, whereas persons without disabilities participated at a rate of 67.7%*.
- 10.9% of persons with disabilities were unemployed, compared to 5.9% of persons without disabilities
It’s high time that the inclusion of PwD in the workplace and corporate sector is addressed and that steps are taken to make sure PwD are hired and are given a chance to have an independent and dignified life.
VOSAP has already been working to enable, empower Specially Abled People (PwD) to be self employed with self employment kits, promoting artists with disabilities to earn even from the US, earn living with assistive devices like tricycle, being provided to them.
In order to have inclusion of PwD in the corporate workplace, VOSAP has come up with a framework to help corporations devise their Disability and Inclusion (D&I) strategy that is comprehensive in nature and a useful matrix to start measuring.
Voice of SAP has launched VOSAP Job Portal as part of employment initiative for Persons with Disabilities in India and United States. Find jobs here.
Reach out to us at jobs@voiceofsap.org with jobs you want PwD to perform. Join our efforts to mainstream millions of Specially Abled People with jobs that they can perform and live independently.
