National Disability Employment Awareness Month Underway in October: Labor Department's 2026 Theme Is 'Celebrating Value and Talent'
WASHINGTON - October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). According to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the annual observance is led by the department's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and recognizes the positive impact of people with disabilities in the American workforce, while showcasing supportive and inclusive policies and practices that benefit employees and employers. In a May 26, 2026 announcement, the Labor Department set this year's theme as 'Celebrating Value and Talent,' carrying the spirit of last year's celebration forward through 2026 in honor of America's 250th birthday.
The department says this year's observance plays an important role in its year-long celebration of the American worker in support of the nationwide Freedom 250 initiative, and that the annual NDEAM poster and participation resources are available through the NDEAM page at dol.gov. On October 16, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. ET, the department held a virtual commemorative event marking both NDEAM and the 25th anniversary of ODEP. The program covered the record-high number of working-age disabled Americans with jobs, ODEP's 25 years of impact, the road to financial independence, recovery-ready workplaces and the future of work. Featured guests included Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling, ODEP Assistant Secretary Julie Hocker, former ODEP Assistant Secretary Neil Romano, OSHA Assistant Secretary David Keeling, EBSA Assistant Secretary Daniel Aronowitz, and Kathryn Burgum, Co-Chair of the Great American Recovery Initiative.
The Labor Department traces NDEAM to 1945, when Congress established the first week of October as a national observance focused on workers with physical disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded it to a month-long commemoration covering all forms of visible and invisible disabilities, including mental health conditions. ODEP was created in 2001 and entrusted to administer NDEAM, including selection of its annual theme. According to data compiled by the nonprofit The Arc, 40.3 percent of working-age people with disabilities were employed in September 2026, compared with 75 percent of people without disabilities.
The department also invites employers, schools and community organizations to take part in October, suggesting steps such as reviewing and strengthening inclusive policies, training supervisors and educating employees about workplace accommodations.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：联邦机构举行的全国残障就业宣传月表彰仪式（资料图）。来源：Wikimedia Commons，美国住房与城市发展部（HUD）总部仪式照片，经 DPLA 收录，公共领域
