Oregon Celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month In October - 10/08/26

Oregon joins in the celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) this October. It’s a time to celebrate the contributions people with disabilities make in workplaces and recognize businesses that recruit and hire employees with disabilities.
 

This year’s theme of “celebrating value and talent” is reflected in Oregon throughout the year in the countless ways people with disabilities bring value to their jobs and communities.
 

“Our communities and economy are stronger when the talents and strengths of people with disabilities are part of the workforce,” said Allison Enriquez, Oregon’s Employment First Coordinator. “Working is also a cornerstone to people’s independence, well-being and community connection.”
 

In Oregon, the employment rate for working-age people with disabilities increased about 10 percentage points between 2015 and 2023, from about 37.8% to 47.7%, according to the Center for Research on Disability. Despite this progress, a substantial employment gap remains: in 2023, 47.7% of Oregonians with disabilities ages 18 to 64 were employed, compared with 79.7% of Oregonians without disabilities.
 

“This progress speaks to the strong supports Oregon put in place to help people with disabilities enter and stay in the workforce,” Enriquez said. “However, there is still work to do. Oregon is committed to ensuring employment supports remain strong so everyone has access to reach their potential and fully participate in their communities.”

NDEAM webinar series

Partners who deliver employment services invite everyone to join a series of webinars in October to celebrate workplace successes and educate the community about resources and services available for job seekers with disabilities.
 

Webinars are scheduled Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Zoom. For details on each session and accessibility information, go to Oregon’s NDEAM event web page.

• Oct. 13 – Oregon as a Model Employer: Promoting employment and career advancement for people with disabilities in state and local government
   
• Oct. 20 – What is ableism and why it matters in the workplace
   
• Oct. 27 – Technology in employment: How assistive technology and AI can support people with disabilities at work
   
• Nov. 3 – Peer2Peer: An award-winning employment mentorship program for students with disabilities

These events are hosted by the Oregon’s Department of Human Services (ODHS) Office of Developmental Disabilities Services and Vocational Rehabilitation program, Oregon Commission for the Blind and the Oregon Department of Education.

Employment resources for people with disabilities

• Office of Developmental Disabilities Services has employment services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
   
• Vocational Rehabilitation helps people with all kinds of disabilities find and keep a job and advance in their careers.
   
• Oregon Commission for the Blind helps people with vision loss find and keep a job and advance in their careers.
   
• Ticket to Work is a free federal program for people who are blind or have a disability and receive Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income. People who are 18 to 64 years old and want to work may access this program to prepare for work and find a job.
   
• Employed Persons with Disabilities is a Medicaid program that helps people with disabilities go to work while keeping their Medicaid coverage.
   
• Oregon ABLE Savings Plan is a way people with disabilities can save for the future without the fear of losing needed government benefits.
   
• Free benefits counseling is available to answer job seekers’ questions about how working may affect their benefits.

Information on these programs is available on the ODHS web page “Get Help Finding a Job.”