National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2024

This year we embrace the NIH theme “Access for All,” a powerful reminder of our collective commitment to create workplaces where everyone can succeed regardless of ability.

The month’s theme stands for more than accessibility; it is about ensuring that all employees have equal opportunities to contribute and grow. It involves breaking down barriers that hinder the full participation of individuals with disabilities in the workforce.

During October, we celebrate the diverse talents and achievements of employees with disabilities and reaffirm our dedication to fostering an environment where everyone can thrive. We recognize the importance of reasonable accommodation and inclusive practices that empower all employees to reach their highest potential.

Dear Colleagues,

National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) offers us the opportunity to acknowledge and recognize the contributions that people with disabilities bring to the workforce. The 2024 NIH theme is “Access for All,” which underscores our commitment to creating an inclusive and accessible workplace that empowers individuals with disabilities.

Aligned with this theme, the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) invites all NIH staff to visit the EDI Forum 2024, “Unity in Diversity: Building a Stronger NIH Community through DEIA,” on October 8 and 9 at the Natcher Conference Center on the Bethesda campus. NIH staff will join the agency’s equal employment opportunity office to learn about diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) best practices; meet with EDI staff and community network partners; and visit the Interactive Technology Accessibility Showroom to experience assistive technologies and product demonstrations of ergonomic equipment that supports individuals with disabilities.

NIH is committed to ensuring all employees have an equal opportunity to succeed and thrive. In July, EDI commemorated the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), a groundbreaking civil rights act signed into law on July 26, 1990. The ADA ensures that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities to promote a more equitable society. The EDI webpage on accessibility provides information on Language Access Services, the NIH Reasonable Accommodation Program, and additional guidance to ensure NIH is accessible for everyone.

Promoting inclusivity is an agency priority. In 2023, the NIH Award for Accessibility was established to recognize the efforts and achievements of individuals who have made significant and ongoing efforts to promoting accessibility. EDI also promotes DEIA by encouraging staff to join Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) designed to connect people with common interests. One such ERG is ABILITIES, which was established to promote a welcoming and supportive workplace regardless of ability or disability.

We encourage you to learn more about NDEAM and participate in conversations promoting understanding and inclusion. Together, let us embrace our uniqueness and foster a culture where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered to reach their full potential.

Join us today and throughout the year as we give voice to NIH’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by visiting EDI’s website, subscribing to the EDI Pulse, following EDI on LinkedIn and X, and viewing EDI’s YouTube channel to stay informed.