FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- "Americans with disabilities are entitled to the same rights and freedoms as any other citizen -- including the right to dignity and respect in the workplace," read the first line of the presidential proclamation for the 2016 National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
Held every October, NDEAM is a time to raise awareness about disability employment issues and encourage people with disabilities to identify themselves in the workplace.
"Each year, NDEAM is held to celebrate the contributions of American workers with disabilities," said Nicole Williams, U.S. Army Special Operations Command Equal Employment Opportunity disability program manager. "The theme for 2016 is 'Inclusion Works' and it affirms the important and diverse role that individuals with disabilities have within our workforce."
NDEAM's theme for this year was developed with the use of a hashtag - intended to spur individuals and groups to post images and stimulate discussion on social media about the many ways "#inclusionworks."
"We have a very viable and active disability program here within the command. So this month we're bringing awareness through different mediums such as the disability awareness public service announcement shown on all the digital signage throughout the command, we also have a platform on social media as well as the disability awareness poster," Williams said.
NDEAM's roots date back to 1945, when Congress declared the first week in October "National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week."
"In 1962 the word 'physically' was removed to incorporate all forms of disability," Williams noted. "In 1988 the term changed, from 'National Employ the Handicapped Week,' to 'National Disability Employment Awareness Month.' So they extended it from a single week to span the entire month."
In addition to the observance, there are clear-cut laws in place to protect the rights of individuals with disability in regards to their employment.
"There are disability civil rights laws such as the 'American Disability Act,' the 'Rehabilitation Act,' as well as the 'Architectural Barrier Act,' which exist to advance the inclusion of people with disabilities," Williams said. "The law says that as long as they are capable of doing the job with or without an accommodation, then they are a well-qualified individual."
Besides being a national observance, NDEAM is a standard of conduct that USASOC has supported and upheld since its beginning.
"USASOC has observed NDEAM since its establishment in December of 1989," Williams said. "The command has since been very committed to forging an inclusive workforce, which has always been a priority."
Williams notes that leadership across the department of defense should observe the wealth of experience and capabilities many disabled personnel can provide, and the myriad of benefits that come from having a diverse and inclusive workforce.
"USASOC is composed of 17.4 percent individuals with disability within our workforce, of those only .8 percent are individuals with 'targeted disability'- meaning deafness, blindness, missing extremities, partial paralysis, convulsive disorders, mental illness, and distortion of limbs or spine," Williams said. "The department of defense employment goal of persons with 'targeted disability' is 2 percent."
Although many people within USASOC and other organizations may be disabled, Williams explains that many may opt not to self-identify due to fear of being identified by their disability rather than their work ethic.
"I know we have that 2 percent goal within our workforce, it's just a matter of getting people to disclose and self-identify as an individual with a disability," Williams said. "Our disabled workers are an underutilized resource and many employees don't speak up out of fear of discrimination, or that they will be treated differently."
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