National Disability Employment Awareness Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is held each October to recognize the many and varied contributions of people with disabilities to America’s workplaces and economy.
The theme for NDEAM 2021, “America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion,” reflects the importance of ensuring that people with disabilities have full access to employment and community involvement during the national recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to the disability employment initiatives you’ll find in this toolkit provided by Munroe-Meyer Institute, access the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy’s website to browse additional resources and explore more ways to celebrate NDEAM!
Every day, people with disabilities can and do make important contributions to America’s businesses. They have the drive to succeed in employment, and the skills and talent they need to deliver value and results for their employers.
Learn more about the What can YOU do Campaign for Disability Employment.
2021 Participation Toolkit & Celebration Schedule
Download the PDFWeb page & toolkit updated on 10-1-2021.
Get Social! |
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Be Aware & Share |
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Share a fact, start a conversation, or invite others to support disability employment on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Nextdoor Neighborhood.
- United Nations – Department of Economic and Social Affairs | Disability and Employment Fact Sheet
Use These Hashtags |
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#NDEAM | #NDEAM2021 | #DisabilityEmployment | #InclusionWorks
Accessibility tip: DidYouKnow that capitalizing the first letter of each word in a hashtag makes it more accessible for people of all abilities? Learn more.
Follow Us | October 1-31 |
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Follow MMI on Facebook October 1-31. We'll share education, resources, highlights, news & more!
Update your Photo Frame |
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Show your support of disability employment and raise awareness in your friend group.
- Update your Facebook profile photo using our #NDEAM2021 frame.
- Search: October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month
At Home - or - At the Office |
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Jeans Day! Ask your employer to consider supporting your office or team wearing jeans each Friday during October to start a conversation about acceptance and inclusion of individuals with disabilities into the workplace.
Use the NDEAM virtual background for Teams or Zoom meetings! Download the background.
Celebration Schedule |
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October 15 (11-11:30 a.m.) CTTune in on Facebook @EducationwithanEdge |
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Education with an Edge Podcast, hosted by Jaquelle Lane, MEd
with Saige Vohs, MRC, CRC – Employment Services Liaison, University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at MMI UNMC/Nebraska Medicine Project SEARCH
- See inside the Munroe-Meyer Institute's Project SEARCH Program at UNMC/Nebraska Medicine.
- Meet Beth, former Project SEARCH student – Watch on Facebook: From Internship at UNMC Munroe-Meyer to employment at NP Dodge Real Estate.
- Learn about transition services offered through Munroe-Meyer.
- Get a sneak peek about what's coming up next week!
October 18-22 | Monday-Friday |
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Education and Workforce Development at Munroe-Meyer
with Rachel Ray, MA [bio]
Assistant Professor, University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at MMI; Program Director, MMI-UNO Trailblazers
- Get to know MMI-UNO Trailblazers.
- Meet Rachel Mulligan, MMI-UNO Trailblazer student and MMI employee.
- Thank you to Robert Dewaele and other donors who made the Trailblazer Program possible!
- Robert serves as a teacher and mentor to our students and budding artists through workshops available to enrolled Trailblazer students. Learn more about Robert and his art.
- Munroe-Meyer Institute and Robert have a mutual appreciation.
- Read: Robert Dewaele thankful for correct diagnosis at Munroe-Meyer Institute; published August 20, 2021 - University of Nebraska Foundation.
- Learn how and why UNMC/Nebraska Medicine Project SEARCH works.
- Take a tour of MMI’s Community Partner spaces – Request a room reservation!
Explore Other Local Programs
- Heartland Workforce Solutions
- Madonna School & Community Based Services
- Prosper Workforce Services at Autism Action Partnership
National Disability Employment Awareness WEEK |
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October 25-29 | Monday-Friday |
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Celebrate Local Inclusive Hiring
The employers below understand the value of hiring individuals with disabilities. An easy way to support disability employment is to support their business! Please note, this is not a complete list of inclusive employers in our area and only includes businesses with whom we have direct and personal knowledge of inclusive hiring.- Munroe-Meyer Institute
- Sodexo at Nebraska Medicine
- Hy-Vee
- LaCasa
- NP Dodge
- Embassy Suites
- Should your business be highlighted here? - Contact us!
Disability Employment Awareness Webinars
Brought to you by Nebraska Disability Advocates (20+ collaborating organizations, including the UCEDD at Munroe-Meyer Institute.) CART and ASL will be available. View flyer.
Each date requires a registration. Register.
- Oct 26: Medicaid Insurance for Workers with Disabilities, Medicaid Expansion, Social Security Work Incentives
- Oct 27: Person Centered Planning and VR Implementation of PCP
- Oct 28: Supported Employment and Different Parts of it, like Job Coaching or Other Supports
Disability Employment Links, News & Resources |
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- ADA National Network - Visit their website for information, guidance and Training on the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) - Visit their website for free resources that help employers tap the benefits of disability diversity by educating public- and private-sector organizations on ways to build inclusive workplace cultures.
- Employment Resource: Department of Labor (DOL) Offers Short Videos on Disability Employment Topics – by Doris Parfaite-Claude; Sep. 16, 2019 [Read on ancor.org]
- National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) - Visit their website for insight from legislative leaders and staff, political observers and public policy experts from across the nation.
- Employment for People with Disabilities [Read the article]
- Disability 101: Employment Policies and Etiquette [Read the article]
- No Labor Shortage At Cafe Staffed By Workers With Intellectual Disabilities – by Jerry Carino; Oct. 1, 2021 [Read in Disability Scoop]
- Omaha teen starts small business during pandemic – by Brian Mastre; Sep. 29, 2021. [Watch on wowt.com] | Kota’s K-9 Kookies
- Stronger Together: Appreciating Contributions from People with Disabilities – by James Knight; Oct. 8, 2020 [Read on US Coast Guard]
A Little about Web Accessibility
This is the inclusive practice of ensuring there are no barriers that prevent interaction with, or access to, websites on the World Wide Web by people with physical disabilities, situational disabilities, and socio-economic restrictions on bandwidth and speed. When sites are correctly designed, developed and edited, generally all users have equal access to information and functionality.
Website accessibility features are the elements of a site designed to improve the ability of people with disabilities to independently use it. Sometimes website include extra options specifically to enhance some people’s use and these are noted by the ‘accessibility icon’ shown, which is a generally a stick person with arms outstretched symbol inside a circle. Learn more.
About the Munroe-Meyer Institute
MMI's mission is to lead the world in transforming the lives of all individuals with disabilities and special health care needs, their families and communities through outreach, engagement, premier educational programs, innovative research and extraordinary patient care.
University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), Education, Research and Service
The Munroe-Meyer Institute UCEDD is directed by Mark Shriver, PhD, BCBA-D [bio].
The Munroe-Meyer Institute was designated as a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) in 1968 and maintains that designation today through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living (ACL).
As a UCEDD, MMI is a member of the Association of University Centers on Disability (AUCD), one of 68 programs across the United States and its territories uniquely affiliated with universities, allowing them to serve as liaisons between academia and the community. UCEDDs are independent but interlinked centers, representing an expansive national resource for the promotion of independence, self-determination, productivity, integration, and inclusion of individuals with developmental disabilities and provide supports for families.
The core functions of a UCEDD are to provide pre-service preparation and continuing education, services (including technical assistance, community education, and direct services), research and information dissemination.
Contact Us
Munroe-Meyer Institute (MMI), UNMC
6902 Pine Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68106
402-559-6418
For more information, email MMI's Community Engagement department.
Mark Shriver | Director, UCEDD at Munroe-Meyer Institute | Email
Rachel Ray | Assistant Professor, UCEDD at MMI; Program Director, MMI-UNO Trailblazers | Email
Saige Vohs | Employment Services Liaison, UCEDD at MMI | Email
Nicole Hackendahl | Digital Media Manager, Community Engagement | Email