It's National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)! Observed each October, NDEAM celebrates the contributions of workers with disabilities and educates about the value of a diverse workforce inclusive of everyone's skills and talents. This year’s theme is "#InclusionWorks."
The American Foundation for the Blind is proud to participate in NDEAM every year. Here are some ideas for ways you can use AFB’s resources to celebrate and support a workforce that is fully inclusive of people who are blind or visually impaired.
- If you’re the parent of a child who is blind, low vision, or has multiple disabilities, explore FamilyConnect.org! It’s never too early to start expanding your child’s knowledge base, or providing meaningful community experiences.
As your child gets older, you can increase their exposure to jobs and hobbies, laying the groundwork for that exciting moment when they can start volunteering, and eventually figuring out what they’d like to be when they grow up.
- CareerConnect® is a great resource for young visually impaired adults to explore careers, and learn how to make connections and succeed on the job.
You’ll also learn how to write a resume or personal data sheet, how to prepare for interviews, and think about when and how to disclose your disability.
- If you’re a visually impaired adult in the workforce, we’d love to hear from you! Would you like to become a mentor, or share your story through CareerConnect? How did you find your current job?
If you’re dealing with recent vision loss, VisionAware.org has articles on how to talk to your employer about it, including important information about your legal rights, how to ask for reasonable accommodations, and continuing to work as a senior with vision loss.
If you are a professional who works with teens or young adults who are blind or visually impaired, check out CareerConnect’s new, free Transition to Work Program Activity Guide. These 19 lessons and supporting materials provide instructors with easy access to a variety of activities in several formats, to meet the learning medium needs of all of their students. Be sure to check out the other free lesson plans from CareerConnect.
Finally, we encourage you to visit the Department of Labor’s website and explore their ideas for employers, educators and youth service professionals, associations and unions, disability-related organizations, and federal agencies to celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
Sign up for employment-related alerts to get updates as we add new articles and resources throughout the month. And let us know, in the comments: what do you have planned?
