By Taylor C Derringer
Access & Inclusion Specialist
We can’t believe it either, but it’s October already! It’s time for pumpkin spice, raking leaves, and wiping spiderwebs off our sideview mirrors. October is also National Disability Employment Awareness Month. For 2023, NDEAM has chosen “Advancing Access and Equity” as their theme.
The Civil Rights Act outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, and sex. It wasn’t for another 26 years until people with disabilities were offered similar protections, when the American Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) was passed.
Explore & More takes pride in providing career and volunteer opportunities for all people of every ability level. Hiring individuals with disabilities can help businesses meet their needs while strengthening their competitive edge by expanding their pool of talent and creating a culture of diversity.
Take a moment to reflect on small things that you and your family members do to make the world a little more inclusive. Small shifts will expand future generations’ comfort zones. Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler is a beautiful introduction to the ideas of Diversity, Access, Inclusivity and Equity. I recommend kicking off the fall season by reading this book with your family. Enjoy!
Resources:
National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) | U.S. Department of Labor (dol.gov)
Disability Resources | U.S. Department of Labor (dol.gov)
AskEARN | Inclusion@Work: A Framework for Building a Disability-Inclusive Organization
