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October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month

"Talent Has No Boundaries:
Workforce Diversity INCLUDES Workers with Disabilities"

This year's theme serves to inform the public that workers with disabilities represent a diverse and vibrant talent pool for hire.

Public Law 176, enacted by Congress in 1945, designated the first week of October each year as "National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week." President Harry S. Truman designated the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities to carry out the Act. In 1962, the word "physically" was removed from the week's name to acknowledge the employment needs of all Americans with disabilities. Congress expanded the week to a month in 1988 and changed its name to "National Disability Awareness Month," which eventually evolved to its current name. The Labor Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy took over responsibility of National Disability Employment Awareness Month in 2001.

This year's theme epitomizes Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis' commitment to "good jobs for everyone."

"The solutions and innovations applicable to the successful employment of workers with disabilities impact the entire workforce, including aging workers, injured workers, at-risk youth, women, people of color, and unemployed and underemployed workers," said Kathleen Martinez, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy.

"Talent Has No Boundaries:
Workforce Diversity INCLUDES Workers with Disabilities"

South Dakota's Freedom to Work Project is a federally funded systems change grant. The purpose of the grant is to make improvements to the Medicaid system that will encourage individuals with disabilities to return to work and provide supports when they do so. The grant entered its 10th year as of January 1, 2010.

We invite you to explore this site and the many resources that are available on it. As you do so, if you have questions or a need for information not present on this site, please contact any of our staff for assistance.

	Brad Kehn has been general manager for nine years
	Velma Austad has been employed in her home, doing daycare
	With the help of Rehab Services, Wanda was able to secure a job
	Bob Hartman is the owner and manager of Bills Super Value in Milbank