Celebrating People with Disabilities

Each July, we celebrate Disability Pride Month, a time to recognize the contributions and achievements of people with disabilities and advocate for a more inclusive world. Local Goodwill organizations play an important role in ensuring people with disabilities can develop skills, access meaningful employment, and achieve their career goals.

The theme for this year’s Disability Pride Month is, “We Want a Life Like Yours,” reflecting the disability community’s dreams for life experiences, including employment. Currently, 85% of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are unemployed. Among those who are employed, people with IDD are working fewer than 13 hours a week on average and less than one-fifth of them are getting workplace benefits. However, research shows that disability inclusion is a proven good business decision.

July also marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which was signed into law on July 26, 1990. The ADA provides civil rights protection for people with disabilities and allows for access to state and local government services, public transportation, public accommodations, employment, and telecommunications relay services. In a proclamation commemorating the anniversary of the ADA, President Biden notes, “ As we celebrate the anniversary of the ADA, we honor the courageous activists who worked so hard to get this historic legislation passed.  We recognize the strength of people with disabilities, who remind us every day that America is stronger when we tap into the talents of all our people.  And we renew our commitment to moving America closer to the promise of equal opportunity for all Americans.”

It is fitting that the Department of Labor also shared in July, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) materials highlighting this year’s theme, Access to Good Jobs for All. While NDEAM takes place annually in October, planning for it gets started well before. Good jobs change lives, and all workers—including workers with disabilities—deserve the opportunity to prepare for, obtain and thrive in them.