JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
In 1945, Congress enacted Public Law 176, which led to the designation of October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This was done to recognize the enormous potential of individuals with disabilities and ensure their full integration into the workforce.
Throughout the month we recognize their accomplishments and reaffirm our commitment to them, ensuring the opportunities of this great nation are available and accessible to every citizen.
This year's theme is "A Strong Workforce is an Inclusive Workforce: What can you do?"
"Employers who ensure that inclusive workplace policies and practices are woven into the fabric and culture of the organization create an environment that encourages all workers--including those of us with disabilities--to work to their full capacity and contribute fully to the organization's success," said Kathy Martinez, Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Office of Disability Employment Policy, "[The theme] promotes the benefits of a diverse workforce that includes workers with disabilities, who represent a highly skilled talent pool."
People with disabilities bring a unique, yet underrepresented perspective of diversity to the workplace. In the Air Force, individuals with disabilities are making important contributions in the workplace every day. Air Force wide, people with disabilities represent 7.4 percent of the civilian workforce, and people with targeted disabilities (blindness, deafness, paralysis, and mental illness) represent another 0.6 percent.
The Program for People with Disabilities is one of Joint Base Langley-Eustis' special emphasis programs that work with commanders, supervisors and management officials to enhance the employment and advancement opportunities of people with disabilities.
The program does this by identifying and removing architectural barriers in the workplace, and by providing management recommendations on reasonable accommodations. Also, it assists, counsels and identifies the needs of employees or applicants with disabilities. The PPD functions to ensure diversity and equal opportunity are prevalent in the civilian workforce.
Improvements are being made, however more work still remains. As more people with disabilities join the workforce, employment expectations and opportunities for people with disabilities will begin to increase.
To make sure this month's theme of "an Inclusive Workforce" is realized, we must continue our efforts to enable Americans with disabilities to live and work with greater freedom.
For more information on the Program for People with Disabilities, call 764-8442.