According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, one in every four Americans has some form of disability. Despite this being 27% of the population, this community has gone through a lot over the past few centuries to earn the right to basic functions in society, including being employed.
In 1945, Congress passed Public Law 176, declaring the first week of October as National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week. 25 years later, this week was expanded to the entire month of October and renamed the National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
The theme for this year’s month of awareness is “advancing access and equity.” This recognition highlights the importance of inclusion and accessibility in the workplace but also acknowledges the hard-fought struggle that has been endured to gain these rights.
Purpose
National Disability Month was given national recognition to highlight the consistent challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in their journey to acquire jobs and to champion inclusion in the workplace.
According to a survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the American workforce employed 21.3% of the disabled population in 2022. Although this is an increase from 19.1% the previous year, there are still areas of improvement in creating more accessible, inclusive, and diverse workspaces. This month of recognition spotlights these needs and pushes for more advocacy and change.
These efforts are recognized to call upon individuals, employers, and communities to unite in creating a world where disability doesn’t limit one’s potential but nurtures it in a place where everyone has the opportunity to contribute their skills to the workforce.
History & Background
For much of the 19th century, individuals with disabilities were deemed unfit to contribute to society and were treated as inhumane beings. This discrimination included exposure to the public for entertainment purposes, being unwillingly sterilized, and locking up individuals in mental institutions and asylums where they were often subject to poor treatment.
Although some efforts to advocate for disabled persons’ rights took place in this time (including Dorothea Dix’s 1848 address to Congress for disability accommodation and Hervey B. Wilbur’s creation of a private school specializing in the improvement of social and self-help skills, to name two), this marginalization continued well into the 20th century. It wasn’t until around the 1930s, with a handicapped American president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, that the country began to notice advocacy and concerted efforts. Subsequently, in the 1940s, the push to recognize the needs of veterans after WWII began to further open up the perception of the disability community to the public.
As advocacy ensued, the first great change in the disability rights movement didn’t happen until 1973, when the Rehabilitation Act was passed by President Nixon. This legislation prohibits “discrimination on the basis of disability” in a variety of federal programs, including employment settings. Looking back over its 50 years in effect, the Rehabilitation Act has been instrumental in giving disabled employees a voice, as well as laying the foundation for the American Disability Act.
The American Disability Act (ADA), passed in 1990 by George H. W. Bush, further prohibits the discrimination of Americans with disabilities in all areas of life. This includes giving them education access through special programs, enhancing employment opportunities, and making public spaces and transportation services more accessible. This act was the cornerstone in securing rights and destigmatizing work abilities for those mentally or physically impaired.
Since the passing of the ADA, employment conditions for the disability community have significantly improved. Especially more recently, with greater access to employment through remote job opportunities, workspaces have become more inviting and inclusive. However, there is still a long way to go in the fight for disability employment rights.
Just three years ago, in 2020, disability claims were the most commonly reported type of discrimination, with a total of 24,324 claims. People with disabilities are still mistreated, undermined, and marginalized in the workplace. Besides harassment, there are a variety of other problems faced, including sensory issues, accessibility and accommodation deficiencies, significant wage gaps, inflexible work patterns, etc. According to the United States Census Bureau, employees with a disability earn 87 cents for every dollar earned by employees without a disability. Additionally, despite studies showing that 56% of accommodation adjustments are actually at no cost to companies, some still use the excuse that their lack of accessibility features is due to financial issues. So, despite incredible progress, there is much to do in the way of furthering the mission of disability employment rights.
Impact
The impact of disabled individuals in the workplace is one that cannot be overlooked. Their inclusion brings a diverse and unique perspective that cannot be paralleled, as well as skills that contribute to work settings on multiple levels. They demonstrate adaptability and a strong mindset to overcome adversity and social barriers through contributions to their respective workplaces.
Inclusion and advancement of access and equity in the workplace foster an environment that encourages employees to reach their full potential and promotes the importance of a dynamic world. Being able to recognize the various achievements and benefits of disabled individuals in the workplace is the first step to eliminating stereotypes and encouraging a more inclusive and excessive future.
Resources
If you are interested in information to help better understand the disabled community and their fight for employment rights, here are just a few resources linked below:
Crip Camp - 2020 (Film, currently available on Netflix)
Disability After Dark with Andrew Gurza - (Podcast)
Disability Visibility - 2020 (Book)
Year of the Tiger by Alice Wong - 2022 (Book)
Disability Visibility Project - (Website)
“Disabled People Are A Vital Part Of Your Workforce: Advice To Help You Manage”
“Removing Obstacles for Disabled Workers Would Strengthen the U.S. Labor Market”
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