NDEAM 2022

National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is an annual October campaign promoting disability inclusion in business and the workplace. NDEAM began in the U.S. following World War Two. Here in Canada, it’s being recognized more and more, across the country.

With it being all about raising awareness, what’s your level of disability awareness and confidence? Test your knowledge about disability by taking our Disability Myth Quiz. (You’ll find the French version here.)

ODEN’s annual NDEAM campaign

Each year ODEN leads a campaign for its members to raise disability-inclusive employment awareness. Our annual NDEAM campaign focuses on the many ways disability-inclusive hiring:

• Changes employees’ lives and helps them succeed in the workplace
• Enables businesses to fill required roles from the talent pool of people who have a disability
• Allows businesses to increase productivity, employee engagement and profitability
• Drives cultural change within a business
• Strengthens brand reputation and customer loyalty for many businesses

2022 campaign theme: Driving the Future of Work with Disability Inclusion

Our 2022 National Disability Employment Awareness Month campaign looks at how disability inclusion is reshaping the nature of work now, and in the future.

A combination of forces over the last two years has created a sea change in the nature of work. Businesses are recognizing that disability inclusion really is driving the future of work. Astute business leaders understand that diversity includes disability.

They understand — or are beginning to understand — that when their business goals and disability inclusion are closely aligned, that inclusion can drive future business success.

In all, 85% of businesses surveyed globally for The Valuable Truth Report 2022 are actively working on removing barriers to employment.

One of the main reasons why disability inclusion is driving the future of work in Canada? The number of Canadians who have a disability is increasing. It’s important to remember that “disability” is a broad term that covers a diversity of disabilities. But here are a couple of hard statistics that show how much disability is increasing:

• According to research by the Conference Board of Canada, the number of Canadians who have a visible physical disability, is expected to increase 1.8% each year: 3.6 million people by 2030.
• And there are 7.6 million Canadians living with chronic pain — the number-one invisible disability in Canada. That number is anticipated to increase 17.5%, reaching nine million people by 2030. 

So in the years ahead, there are going to be more employees — and more job seekers — in the disability talent pool that businesses need to:

• Fill labour needs
• Stay successful and competitive
• Demonstrate their commitment to inclusion
• Create an inclusive culture reflecting and meeting the needs of all employees, and the community a business serves

What it comes down to is this: Organizations that understand the power of investing in the talent of skilled people who have a disability now, invest in future success. They’re driving the future of work with disability inclusion.

Throughout October, we’ll focus on:

• How now, more than ever, disability inclusion is driving the future of work and making the inclusive-hiring journey vital for business success
• Why it’s important to have a comprehensive hiring strategy that includes disability-inclusive hiring
• Key methods for employment service providers to effectively have conversations with businesses about disability inclusion
• Why disability inclusion needs to be part of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)

The NDEAM 2022 PR Kit is Now Available!

Participating in NDEAM is easy!

Use the resources in the NDEAM 2022 PR Kit to get started now…get involved in raising awareness about about how and why disability inclusion is reshaping the nature of work — now and in the future.

NDEAM 2022 Mayoral Proclamations

Mayoral proclamations of October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month enhance the annual recognition of the valuable contributions people who have a disability make to businesses and communities. They also add strength to the call for all businesses in all communities to be strategic and intentional about inclusive hiring. If you have a Mayoral proclamation/recognition of NDEAM in your community that you’d like us to share and highlight, send us a copy.

Find out more about Light It Up! For NDEAM and how to get involved!