In October 2026, we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), an annual recognition of the positive impact of people with disabilities in the American workforce. This yearly event began in 1945 as a weeklong national observance of the contributions of people with physical disabilities. In 1988, Congress designated the commemoration as NDEAM, which then evolved to acknowledge the importance of increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities, including those with mental health conditions and other nonobvious disabilities. In 2001, the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (U.S. DOL ODEP) was created and entrusted to administer NDEAM, including the selection and promotion of its annual theme.
This year’s NDEAM theme is "Celebrating Value and Talent," carrying the spirit of last year's celebration forward through 2026 in honor of America's 250th birthday.
In Minnesota, the month is being marked in different ways:
- Governor Walz Proclaims October as Disability Employment Awareness Month in Minnesota
- Through sharing stories on the CareerForce.MN.gov blog that reflect the spirit of NDEAM
Resources for people with disabilities and community members:
- Career seekers with disabilities are encouraged to contact staff in the state's Vocational Rehabilitation Services and State Services for the Blind divisions.
- Learn about Connect 700, an on-the-job training program for State of Minnesota employment that offers an alternative procedure for employment candidates whose disabilities make them unable to demonstrate their skills and abilities in the standard competitive selection process.
Resources for employers:
- ADA at Work: What Employers Need to Know October 22 1-2 p.m. on Zoom, registration required
- Your regional Vocational Rehabilitation Services disability employment specialist can provide resources and strategic alliances to tap the talent pool of people who have disabilities.
