JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
In 1945, Congress enacted Public Law 176, leading 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.
This year's theme is "A Strong Workforce is an Inclusive Workforce: What can YOU do?" This theme promotes the benefits of a diverse workforce that includes workers with disabilities, who represent a highly-skilled talent pool.
"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,
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, such as blindness, deafness, paralysis and mental illness, are at 0.6 percent However, the latter figure is well below the Department of Defense goal of 2 percent, and continues a long-term decline.
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. PPD functions to ensure diversity and equal opportunity are prevalent in the civilian workforce.
PPD does this by identifying and removing architectural barriers in the workplace. It also provides management recommendations on reasonable accommodations, and assisting, counseling and identifying the needs and concerns of employees or applicants with disabilities.
Slowly but surely improvements are being made. However, more work still remains. As more people with disabilities join the workforce, and employers realize their immense value, employment expectations and opportunities for persons 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, call PPD at 764-8442.