Welcoming the talents of all people, including those with disabilities, is a critical part of our efforts to build an inclusive community at UW-Green Bay. In this spirit, UW-Green Bay is proud to support National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Held each October, NDEAM aims to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of workers with disabilities. This year’s theme is “Inclusion Drives Innovation.” The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) created this year’s theme with input from a wide variety of its partner organizations, including those representing employers, people with disabilities and their families, and federal, state, and local agencies.
The history of National Disability Employment Awareness Month traces back to 1945, when Congress enacted a law declaring the first week in October each year “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.” In 1962, the word “physically” was removed to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
Current UWGB employees or applicants for employment with disabilities are encouraged to review campus procedures for reasonable accommodation. Please contact Human Resources via email or phone at (920) 465-2390 for additional information.
For specific ideas about how UW-Green Bay employees can support National Disability Employment Awareness Month, visit www.dol.gov/ndeam. We all play an important part in fostering a more inclusive workforce, one where every person is recognized for their abilities every day of every month.