October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Carey Services will participate in the 71th annual observance of National Disability Employment Awareness Month during October by emphasizing education through the agency’s social media outlets and their website.
Carey will celebrate the many individuals with disabilities in the local workforce and employers who employ people with disabilities throughout the agency’s nine-county North Central Indiana service area. Area community members are invited to participate as well.
The theme for this year’s observance is #InclusionWorks. The theme highlights the importance of including people of all backgrounds and abilities in the workforce.
NDEAM has been observed more than 70 years. It began when returning World War II service members generated interest in acknowledging people with disabilities and their contributions to the workforce. On August 11, 1945, President Harry S. Truman signed a congressional resolution declaring the first week in October “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.” The “physically” was removed from the title in 1962.
“Carey Services is proud to participate in this observance each October,” said Jim Allbaugh, Carey Services’ president and chief executive officer. “Of all the special awareness months that are observed each year, this is one that is squarely targeted at our mission of helping people turn abilities and barriers into opportunities by emphasizing community employment and community integration.”
Carey Services has an employment services department focused on community employment, and many of the agency’s programs have components that help people work toward greater independence. Community employment many times is a high priority for clients.
“We appreciate the employers in our area who have been open to embracing individuals with disabilities by hiring them,” said Greg Maynard, Carey’s director of fund and strategic advancement. “By focusing on abilities, we can work together to create employment opportunities that benefit both the employee who might have a challenge and the employer who might miss out on a good employee otherwise.”
For more information about National Disability Employment Awareness Month, click here.