Dear NIH,

In 1988, the United States Congress declared the entire month of October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), to raise awareness of employee contributions with individuals of all types of disabilities. As part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) family, The Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) will be launching its first annual "Cultivating Inclusion: Honoring NIH Champions and Allies of Disability" awards ceremony on October 24th at Natcher’s Balcony B from 10:30 to 11:30 am EST.

We will be using this event to observe NDEAM by recognizing individuals within the Disability community or allies in advancing scientific discovery at NIH. This year's winners will be announced on Monday, October 21st.

At the NIH, we want to make greater strides toward increasing diversity and utilizing resources to improve inclusion. In recognition of NDEAM, it’s important to highlight the significance of inclusivity in the workplace. Under the theme “Impacting Scientific Discovery through Disability Inclusion,” we look to celebrate those in the disability community that has made an impact here at NIH.

Throughout October, EDI will actively be on social media, celebrating individuals past and present who have made a positive impact on the inclusion of the Disability Community. You can follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @NIH_EDI and be sure to follow the conversation by using the tag #NDEAM. All staff members are encouraged to participate and attend to the awards ceremony, as this campaign marks a historic time at the NIH and further solidifies NIH’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion for all.

Sincerely yours,

Debra Chew, Esq.
EDI Director