The Chatham County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution on Sept. 20 recognizing October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month and commemorating its 76th anniversary.
The resolution was presented to Chatham Trades’ Executive Director Shawn Poe.
“Since 1980, Chatham Trades has been providing employment and training for Chatham County residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” Poe said. “We have created an environment that treats each person with respect and equality.”
The purpose of National Disability Employment Awareness Month is to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. It provides an opportunity to raise awareness about disability employment issues and celebrate the workers with disabilities and their accomplishments.
“It is a time to encourage employers and others to recognize the value and talent that people with disabilities add to America and to Chatham County’s workplaces and economy,” Poe said.
This year’s theme, “America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion,” reflects the importance of ensuring that people with disabilities have full access to employment and community involvement during the national recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our national recovery from the pandemic cannot be completed without the inclusion of all Americans, in particular people with disabilities,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “Their contributions have historically been vital to our nation’s success and are more important today than ever. We must build an economy that fully includes the talent and drive of those with disabilities.”
Reflecting this year’s theme, Chatham Trades will continue to educate the public on disability employment issues and its commitment to an inclusive work culture. These efforts include a video promoting Chatham Trades’ services which is available on the homepage of its website at www.chathamtrades.org.
“Chatham Trades is proud to be a part of this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month,” Poe said. “We want to spread the important message that we value all perspectives, including those of individuals with disabilities.”
Employers and employees in all industries can learn more about how to participate in National Disability Employment Awareness Month and ways they can promote its messages — during October and throughout the year — by visiting www.dol.gov/NDEAM.