Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month with Deed

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. It’s crucial for employers and employees to amplify the voices of colleagues with disabilities, and celebrate their innovations and contributions. Take advantage of NDEAM as an opportunity to discuss inclusion in the workplace and commit to supporting your employees. This National Disability Employment Awareness Month, let's continue to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can reach their career goals and aspirations.

At Deed, we’re recognizing NDEAM by highlighting some nonprofits found on Deed working within this space. These organizations could be great partners for volunteering, fundraising, lunch and learns, or other employee engagement opportunities. 

Project Hired - Project HIRED is a nonprofit organization with a mission “to assist individuals with disabilities to gain and to sustain employment.” Founded in 1978 and incorporated as a nonprofit in 1985, Project HIRED was created with a commitment to empowering individuals with disabilities to become independent job seekers and to focus on ability. For more than 40 years, Project HIRED has been a leading job search support agency in the San Francisco Bay Area; with evolving programs to meet the community's growing needs.

Through the Looking Glass - Through the Looking Glass provides and encourages respectful and empowering services guided by personal disability experience and disability culture for families with children, parents, or grandparents with a disability or medical issue.

Workplace Technology Foundation - Workplace Technology Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to driving up employment for People with Disabilities in America. 

USSAAC - USAAC is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the needs and advocating for the rights of people who use AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication). USSAAC’s community includes people who can benefit from AAC, family members, professionals from multiple disciplines, students, and AAC-related companies and institutions. 

SeeAbility - The UK-based nonprofit specializes in supporting people who have learning disabilities or autism, who may also have sight loss, to live ambitious lives and achieve things they never thought possible.

National Disability Rights Network - The National Disability Rights Network works in Washington, DC on behalf of the Protection and Advocacy Systems (P&As) and Client Assistance Programs (CAPs), the nation’s largest providers of legal advocacy services for people with disabilities.

TASH - TASH is an international leader in disability advocacy. Founded in 1975, TASH advocates for human rights and inclusion for people with significant disabilities and support needs – those most vulnerable to segregation, abuse, neglect, and institutionalization. TASH works to advance inclusive communities through advocacy, research, professional development, policy, and information and resources for parents, families, and self-advocates. 

Acceptions - Acceptions is an organization in Japan established by parents who have children with Down Syndrome. Acceptions carries out various activities to promote a better understanding of Down Syndrome and advocate for a more inclusive society.

Autism Resource Center - The Singapore-based nonprofit helps individuals with an autism spectrum disorder maximize their potential in life through advocacy and provision of services in education, employment, and empowering of family caregivers/professionals.

For more ideas and information on NDEAM, check out the Department of Labor’s site.