Powers Law is celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), an annual awareness campaign that takes place each October, led by the U.S. Department of Labor. The purpose of National Disability Employment Awareness Month is to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. The theme for 2023 is “Advancing Access and Equity.”
This year’s NDEAM commemorates the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by federal agencies or funded by the federal government. The law was the first major federal law to provide equal access for people with disabilities by removing employment, architectural, and transportation barriers.
“Fifty years after the passage of the Rehabilitation Act and 33 years after the passage of the American with Disabilities Act, unemployment rates of people with disabilities remains stubbornly high,” said Powers Managing Partner Peter W. Thomas, “Powers joins all employers in encouraging the hiring and promotion of diverse candidates, especially candidates with disabilities.”
One of the most important ways employers can accommodate candidates and employees with disabilities is creating an accessible website. Many people with disabilities use assistive technology to access websites and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires that, “electronic and information technology developed, procured, maintained, or used by the federal government be accessible to people with disabilities.” (29 U.S.C § 794) One of Powers’ strategies to enhance the ability of people with disabilities to utilize our website is our use of accessiBe’s affordable software to ensure our website remains ADA compliant.
Employers and employees in all industries can learn more about how to participate in National Disability Employment Awareness Month and ways they can promote its messages—during October and throughout the year—by visiting dol.gov/NDEAM.
Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville (Powers) is a Washington, DC-based law and public policy firm with national healthcare, education, government relations, Indian tribal governments and nonprofit practices. Powers attorneys and professionals are nationally known for their extensive expertise in their practice areas and their commitment to client service.
Contact Information
Grace Williams, Marketing Specialist
Grace.Williams@PowersLaw.com