This month, the University of Maryland School of Social Work's (UMSSW) Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) is recognizing the 77th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. National Disability Employment Awareness Month started in 1945 as “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week” and in 1988, Congress established October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The purpose of National Disability Employment Awareness Month is to raise awareness about issues faced by people with disabilities in employment and celebrate the contributions of workers with disabilities.
In alignment with the J.E.D.I. is Social Work guiding principles of liberation, community, healing, belonging, affirm humanity, and equity, ODEI believes that people with disabilities should have full inclusion in the workplace and all facets of society. We also celebrate the history of the Disability Rights and Disability Justice movements in advancing human and civil rights in the United States.
ODEI’s National Disability Employment Month Campaign aims to raise awareness about disability issues in employment places broadly and at the School of Social Work, and share information about resources for people with disabilities in the workplace. During October, keep a lookout for the distribution of our “Activism Over Ableism” stickers and “Know Your Rights, Resources, and History” zine in the lobby and lounges throughout the UMSSW building. The design of the “Activism Over Ableism” sticker is inspired by the Disability Pride flag created by Ann Magill. The colors of the flag symbolize the inclusion of physical (red), cognitive and intellectual (gold), nonvisible and undiagnosed (white), psychiatric (blue), and sensory (green) disabilities.
ODEI has also compiled a list of resources to provide education about the experiences of employees with disabilities and bring awareness to supports and services available to employees with disabilities at UMSSW, the University, and more broadly. These will be shared in ODEI communications during the month.
We encourage all members of the UMSSW community to demonstrate their commitment to the aims of the National Disability Employment Awareness Month Campaign by signing the J.E.D.I. is Social Work Pledge and participating in UMSSW spaces that support the disability community.
Disability Justice and Advocacy (DJA) Affinity Group
Dates: Nov. 1, Nov. 22, and Dec. 13
Time: 12 p.m.-1 p.m.
Click Here to Register for the DJA Affinity Group
DREAM (Disability Justice Group) — University Student Government Association Supported Group
Email DREAM@ssw.umaryland.edu for more information.