Also known as National Disability Awareness Month, this annual awareness campaign takes place every October dating back to 1988. However, the campaign’s roots actually go back to the year 1945.
A Little History
After WWII ended, American servicemen deployed all over the world returned to the United States. A large segment of this population came home with war caused injuries and disabling conditions. With a great need to re-assimilate these servicemen, Congress enacted a law called Public Law 176 in 1945. It declared that the first week in October of every year shall be known as, “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.”
In 1962, the word “physically” was removed making the new title, “National Employ the Handicapped Week” to acknowledge the employment needs of individuals with all types of disabilities.
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 made it unlawful to discriminate against students with disabilities. Then, in 1975, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act was passed requiring public schools to provide equal education and access for disabled students.
In 1988, Congress expanded the week of National Employ the Handicapped Week to a month and changed the name to, “National Disability Employment Awareness Month”.
In 1990, President Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guaranteeing equal access to all disabled persons and prohibiting discrimination against individuals with disabilities.
In 2000, President Clinton signed an Executive Order, requesting the federal government to hire 100,000 people with disabilities over the next five years.
In 2001 the Office of Disability Employment Policy was created as a sub-cabinet policy agency under the U.S. Department of Labor. The ODEP affects change and provides leadership by “developing and influencing disability employment-related policies and practices affecting an increase in the employment of people with disabilities.”
According to the ODEP, this year’s theme is “The Right Talent, Right Now.”
We at ADA Supreme are very proud to share in this important month-long awareness campaign that celebrates the contributions of all America’s workers with disabilities.
We also want to spread the important message that we value inclusion of all types of people. And… We are looking right now to hire individuals with disabilities. For those interested, call us at: (888) 393-9989
or e-mail us at: [email protected]