1. Breaking down barriers to employment and creating meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome

2. Today’s Topic National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) #InculsionWorks Campaign Richard Davis & Andy Arias Office of Disability Employment Policy

3. National Disability Employment Awareness Month

4. Celebrating Disability Inclusion for More than 70 Years NDEAM dates back to 1945, when Congress declared the first week in October “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.” https://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/ndeam/

5. National Disability Employment Awareness Month Observed in October, NDEAM is a nationwide campaign celebrating the skills and talents workers with disabilities bring to our workplaces. Led nationally by ODEP, NDEAM’s true spirit lies in the many grassroots observances held nationwide every year. Each spring, the theme for each year’s celebration is announced to help organizations and groups plan their events.

6. National Disability Employment Awareness Month Declaration of "National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week" The return of service members with disabilities from World War II sparks public interest in the contributions of people with disabilities in the workplace. On August 11, 1945, President Harry S. Truman approves a Congressional resolution declaring the first week in October "National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.' In 1962, the word "physically" is removed to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities.

7. National Disability Employment Awareness Month In 1988, the federal legislature expanded the week to a month and changed the name to NDEAM. When the department established ODEP in 2001, the agency assumed responsibility for NDEAM.

8. National Disability Employment Awareness Month #InclusionWorks – 2016 Reflecting the important role disability plays in workforce diversity, this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) theme is “#InclusionWorks.” This year’s NDEAM theme was developed with input from a range of organizations with which ODEP partners, and the use of a hashtag is intended to spur individuals and groups to post images and stimulate discussion on social media about the many ways “inclusion works.”

9. National Disability Employment Awareness Month “By fostering a culture that embraces individual differences, including disabilities, businesses profit by having a wider variety of tools to confront challenges. Our nation’s most successful companies proudly make inclusion a core value. They know that inclusion works. It works for workers, it works for employers, it works for opportunity, and it works for innovation.” Jennifer Sheehy, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)

10. National Disability Employment Awareness Month Ideas for Disability-Related Organizations Disability-related organizations have an important role to play in promoting National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). These ideas below are just a few ways YOU can get involved!

11. National Disability Employment Awareness Month Ideas for Disability-Related Organizations & Advocates https://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/ndeam/disability.htm Post an NDEAM Web Link Solicit an NDEAM Proclamation (Mayor, Governor, etc.) Hold an NDEAM Seminar/Presentation Hold an NDEAM Poster Contest Feature NDEAM in your Newsletter Feature NDEAM in Social Media Activities Distribute NDEAM Posters Reach out to Local Media Develop a Disability Employment Webpage Advocate for a Disability History Awareness Initiative

12. National Disability Employment Awareness Month

13. Employment First Get involved with your state’s EMPLOYMENT FIRST Movement!

14. Employment First EMPLOYMENT FIRST is a framework for systems change that is centered on the premise that all citizens, including individuals with significant disabilities, are capable of full participation in integrated employment and community life. Under this approach, publicly-financed systems are urged to align policies, service delivery practices, and reimbursement structures to commit to Competitive, Integrated Employment as the priority option with respect to the use of publicly-financed day and employment services for youth and adults with significant disabilities.

15. Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program

16. National Community of Practice Quarterly Employment First Newsletter Monthly Webinars on: Provider Transformation, Capacity Building, Employer Engagement, School-to-Work Transition Subscribe to Join: http://www.econsys.com/efslmp/?subscribe http://www.econsys.com/efslmp/?subscribe

17. LEAD Center: National Employment First Online Web Platform http://employmentfirst.leadcenter.org/

18. Employment First Advocacy Self-Advocates and Families are needed to support the Employment First Movement! Consider joining your local advocacy organizations and promoting the Employment First Movement!

19. QUESTIONS??? How do you plan to celebrate NDEAM? How can #DSWORKS support Employment First advocacy at the local, state, and national level? Other Questions???

20. THANK YOU! Andy Arias Policy Advisor U.S. DOL ODEP Arias.Andy.L@dol.gov Arias.Andy.L@dol.gov Richard Davis Policy Advisor U.S. DOL ODEP Davis.Richard.A@dol.gov Davis.Richard.A@dol.gov

21. Upcoming Webinars Self-advocate Business owners Present: How to start your own business – November 2016 ThinkCollege Presents: Post-secondary education opportunities – December 2016 Please sign up at ndss.org.

22. Thank You! For questions or comments, please call 1 (800) 221- 4602, email info@ndss.org or connect with us on social media.