Effort to observe Disability Employment Awareness Month

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 2, 2023

CONTACT: Chelsea Wuth, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

MiDDC joins national effort to observe Disability Employment Awareness Month in October

LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council (MiDDC), part of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, is celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month, an awareness campaign that takes place each October.

The purpose of National Disability Employment Awareness Month is to educate the public about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of all workers with disabilities. This year’s theme is “Advancing Access and Equity.”

Throughout October, MiDDC will be engaging in a variety of activities to educate the public on disability employment issues and its commitment to an accessible and equitable work culture. MiDDC will also coordinate with the Self-Advocates of Michigan (SAM) organization to raise awareness of how employees with disabilities contribute to their communities.

“MiDDC is proud to take part in this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month,” said Dr. Yasmina Bouraoui, MiDDC executive director. “This month is a celebration of the contributions of employees with disabilities, and also an opportunity to showcase how inclusion and diversity in our workforce create a stronger society that amplifies the true potential in every individual.”

Activities during Disability Employment Awareness Month include:

• Employment Success Stories: Interviews with people with disabilities on how their experiences with competitive, integrated employment positively impacted their lives.
• Take Your Legislator to Work: MiDDC is partnering with SAM to share firsthand employment experiences of people with disabilities. SAM members who participate in Take Your Legislator to Work will host their state legislators at their workplace to show how they contribute to their community.
• Community Outreach: MiDDC will launch a digital awareness campaign to engage the community and promote how employment positively impacts the lives of people with disabilities. Tools and resources for employers and employees to foster a disability-inclusive workplace will be shared on its Facebook page and website. The public is invited to participate and follow on Facebook using the hashtag #NDEAM2023.

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 Michigan.gov/DDCouncil.