October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), and it’s the perfect time to reflect on the importance of employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. For this month’s posts and Podcast/YouTube, we’re going to highlight not only what we are doing in L’s Participant-Directed Program (PDP) to build job readiness skills, but will also shine a light on organizations and people in our community that are putting this into action.
What is National Disability Employment Awareness Month?
This year marks the 80th anniversary of NDEAM. While this may be new information for some, the observation has a long history of advocating for inclusion and opportunity.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, the 2025 theme for NDEAM is “Celebrating Value and Talent.” Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer summed it up in the official news release: “Celebrating America means celebrating the value and talent that all Americans—including people with disabilities—add to our nation’s workplaces and communities.”
For more resources for both employers and employees—and to watch the official video—you can visit the Department of Labor’s website. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/initiatives/ndeam
Why does this matter?
While it’s encouraging that NDEAM has been observed for eight decades, the numbers remind us how much work still needs to be done.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in February 2025 that in 2024:
- The employment-population ratio (the percentage of the population that is employed) was 22.7% for people with disabilities, compared to 65.5% for people without disabilities.
- For adults under 65 with a disability, the ratio rose to 37.4%—but still lags significantly behind.
- People with disabilities were also more likely to be employed part-time than full-time.
These statistics highlight both progress and the challenges that remain. While many individuals with disabilities are working, the types of employment and access to meaningful, sustainable jobs remain uneven.
How we’re building job readiness in L’s PCP
When L expressed interest in having a job during his person-centered planning, we worked it into his Participant-Directed Program. His Individual Support Plan (ISP) outlines not only his current volunteer experiences but also the types of jobs he’s interested in pursuing. From there, we created goals that focus on the job readiness skills he’ll need for success.
Here are some ways we’re supporting him:
- During Speech therapy, L is working on his articulation and communication skills. Some areas of focus are answering and asking questions, reading social cues, tone of voice, and handling conflict.
- Curriculum supports: For the past 2 years, we used the Unique Learning System (ULS) program to work on job readiness skills. (See blog post SD#18 for more information on this program) For this year, we are researching some additional job readiness programs (more to come in future blog posts!). These new programs will target both technical skills and the “soft skills” that employers value.
- Continued volunteer opportunities: using person-centered planning, L is exploring new opportunities that align with his interests and long-term goals, creating a path toward future paid experiences.
Local organizations putting it into practice
We’re also inspired by local businesses and organizations that are modeling inclusive employment. In future blog posts and podcast episodes, I’ll be spotlighting some of them:
- Boundless Bean – A local coffee shop in Bridgewater MA, creating inclusive opportunities.
- Bitty & Beau’s Coffee (Providence, opening soon) – A well-known coffee shop chain employing individuals with disabilities.
- Sweet Inspirations – A candy shop in Milford, MA, embracing inclusion.
Stay tuned for deeper dives into these organizations and the impact they’re making!
Other October awareness highlights
October is a month full of awareness campaigns. In addition to NDEAM, here are a few others worth noting:
- Disability History Month
- ADHD Awareness Month
- Down Syndrome Awareness Month
- National Dyslexia Awareness Month (with World Dyslexia Awareness Day on October 8th)
If I’ve missed one that’s important to you, please let me know so I can update the list!
Call to Action
As parents, caregivers, and advocates, we play a key role in shaping opportunities for our young adults. This month, I encourage you to:
- Talk with your young adult about their employment dreams and interests.
- Explore volunteer or community opportunities that can build readiness.
- Support businesses that are actively hiring and celebrating the talents of people with disabilities.
Together, we can keep moving the needle forward!
Until next time,
Cheryl
#Life Without a Filter 