Subject
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Proclamation Declaring October 2024, as National Disability Employment Awareness Month
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Department
City Clerk/Director of Council Operations Office
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Mayor and Council read and approve the proclamation.
Discussion
October is Disability Employment Awareness Month and the theme for 2024 is “Access to Good Jobs for All.”
During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, or NDEAM, we celebrate the value and talent workers with disabilities add to America’s workplaces and economy. NDEAM takes place annually each October, but its purpose is to confirm our commitment to ensuring disabled workers have access to good jobs, every month of every year. That’s the spirit behind this year’s official theme: “Access to Good Jobs for All.”
National Disability Employment Awareness Month was declared in 1988 by the United States Congress for the month of October to raise awareness of the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. This month observance is an extension of “National Employ the Physically
Handicapped Week” originally observed during the first week of October beginning in the 1945. In 1962, the word “physically” was removed from the week to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. Americans observe National Disability Employment Awareness Month by paying tribute to the accomplishments of the people with disabilities whose work helps keep the nation's economy strong and by reaffirming their commitment to ensure equal opportunity for all.
History
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits any public institutions that receive federal funds from discriminating on the premise of disability. Only two years later in 1975, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act was passed requiring public schools that accept federal funding to provide equal education and access to education for disabled children. Years later in 1990, President Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guaranteeing access to and prohibits discrimination against individuals with physical or mental disabilities.] In 2000, President Clinton signed an Executive Order, requesting for the federal government to hire 100,000 people with disabilities over the next five years. The final major event that happened is when Congress created the Office of Disability Employment Policy within the Department of Labor.
Under the United States Department of Labor is an Office of Disability Employment Policy. This office has created the Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) which aims to improve education, training and employment opportunities and outcomes for youth and adults with disabilities who are unemployed, underemployed and/or receiving Social Security disability benefits. Through the DEI, there are 70 Disability Resource Coordinators. Along with State Project Leads, they serve to strengthen the capacity of American Job Centers in hopes of increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Source - Wikipedia
Mayor and Council History
This is the first time in several years that Mayor and Council have presented this proclamation.