Relay Resources Celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Press Release • Oct 1, 2024

National Campaign Kicks Off in October to Increase Disability Inclusion in the Workplace; Drop-In Hiring Event Every Thursday at Relay for Disabled People

PORTLAND, Ore., October 1, 2024 (Newswire.com) - Relay Resources, the region’s leading social enterprise nonprofit for people with disabilities, today announced its participation in National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), an annual awareness campaign in October started by the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) that helps disabled people gain access to good jobs year-round and educates employers on how to implement disability inclusion in the workplace. 

This year’s theme is “Access to Good Jobs,” and every Thursday in October, Relay Resources will host a drop-in hiring event for people with disabilities from 2 to 4 p.m. at its headquarters at 5213 NE 148^th Avenue. For more information, please email careers@relayresources.org. Relay is also offering consulting services to companies that want to host a disability inclusion awareness event; they can contact marcomm@relayresources.org.

“Research has shown that including people with and without disabilities in inclusive workplaces leads to a more engaged and productive workforce,” said Dr. Jennifer Camota Luebke, President and CEO of Relay Resources. “We need to standardize supportive and inclusive work environments so that people with and without disabilities can use their talents and skills at work.”

Reflecting on this year’s theme throughout the month,Relay Resources offers a variety of resources and a tool kit for workplaces to educate employees, train people managers, and revise company policies to ensure an inclusive workplace culture. 

Here are some tips from the Office of Disability Employment Policy to advance disability inclusion in your workplace: 

• Host a disability awareness event for employees, such as a lunch-and-learn to educate them about disability issues. 
• Create disability employee resource groups so employees can share ideas that can help with all aspects of the business.
• Incorporate disability accommodations into the company onboarding process.
• Celebrate Disability Mentoring Day on Oct. 16 to promote career development for youth with disabilities through job shadowing.

“We’re proud to take part in this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month,” said Camota Luebke. “Disability inclusion doesn’t need to be expensive or challenging for employers. By making just a few simple adjustments to one’s hiring policies and creating an inclusive workplace culture, it is possible to ensure equitable inclusion in the workplace. We believe disabled people belong — everywhere. “ 

Source: Relay Resources Originally published at https://www.newswire.com/news/relay-resources-celebrates-national-disability-employment-awareness-22434662