DNMM Hosting Events Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month & Cultural Awareness

Disability Network of Mid-Michigan (DNMM) today announced its participation in National Disability Employment Awareness Month, an annual awareness campaign that takes place each October. The purpose of National Disability Employment Awareness Month is to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. This year's theme is "Disability: Part of the Equity Equation.”

“A strong workforce is the sum of many parts, and disability has always been a key part of the equation,” said DNMM Executive Director Kelly PeLong. “People with disabilities make up a wonderfully multifaceted group. By recognizing the full complexion of our community, we can ensure our efforts to achieve disability inclusion are, in fact, truly inclusive.”

Throughout October DNMM will be engaging in a variety of online activities promoting community awareness on disability employment and cultural issues:

• October 12 – Noon-1pm – “People with Disabilities in the Workplace” featuring Gary Holik of Michigan Rehabilitation Services

• October 26 – Noon-1pm – “What is Disability Culture?” featuring a panel discussion with community members with disabilities

• October 27 – 7pm – Film screening of the award-winning documentary “Crip Camp”

Please click here if you are interested in attending any of these free online events. Events featured on Zoom.

“We are proud to be a part of this year's National Disability Employment Awareness Month," added PeLong. "We want to spread the important message that a strong workforce is one inclusive of the skills and talents of all individuals, including individuals with disabilities."

Employers and employees in all industries can learn more about how to participate in National Disability Employment Awareness Month and ways they can promote its messages — during October and throughout the year — by visiting the ODEP website at www.dol.gov/odep.