New Perspectives on Disability Employment

In 1988, Congress designated October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). The purpose of NDEAM is to increase the public’s awareness of the contributions and skills of American workers with disabilities. Various programs carried out throughout the month also highlight specific employment barriers that still need to be addressed and removed. This year’s theme for NDEAM is “Talent has no boundaries: Workforce diversity includes people with disabilities”. The theme emphasizes the rich diversity and talent that workers with disabilities bring to the workplace. According to Kathleen Martinez, Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, “Our diversity of talent is the wellspring of innovation and creativity in the workforce.” To celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month, The Proactive Employer will be hosting a special one-hour round table discussion on disability employment. Guests for this round table include: Sheridan Walker, President of HirePotential; Jonathan Hyman, Partner at Korhman Jackson & Krantz; Kevin Bradley, Director of Diversity at McDonald's; James Rodriguez, Strategic Military Talent Manager for BAE Systems, Inc.; Cari Dominguez, Former Chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), co-author of Leading with Your Heart, owner of Dominguez & Associates. The round table will address topics such as diversity and inclusion of disabled individuals into the workforce, effectively recruiting within the disabled community, accessibility versus accommodation, compliance issues and employers’ legal responsibilities under the ADA and ADAAA, and HR best practices with respect to disability. This round table discussion is co-sponsored by MCG and HirePotential.