Source: Chamber Focus, SouthCoast Chamber of Commerce
by Joanne Rego

October is National Disability Employment Awareness month.  The National Disability Employment Awareness Month is led by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. National Disability Employment Awareness Month has had its origins since 1945. In 1988 President Regan issued Executive Order 12640 which renamed the effort to “President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities”. Employers of all sizes and in all industries are encouraged to participate in National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Our Southcoast Area Chamber of Commerce members can support National Disability Employment Awareness Month,  by visiting the Office of Disability Employment Policy website at www.dol.gov/odep/. They offer many simple suggestions such as putting up a poster to more intricate ideas such as implementing a disability education program within your company. Any and all efforts will play an important part in fostering a more inclusive workforce, one where every person is recognized for his or her abilities. All members of the Southcoast Area Chamber of Commerce are encouraged to participate. 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.

If you have any questions about the Southcoast Chamber of Commerce’s Supported Employment Network or you are interested in hiring a person with disabilities please call Joanne Rego at the Southcoast Area Chamber of Commerce at 508-999-5231 extension 28. You can also call one of our Supported Employment Network member’s job developer directly by calling Mark Jardin at LifeStream, Inc. at 508-991-4840, Cynthia Rapoza at M.O.Life, Inc. at 508-742-8986 or Maurice Charbonneau at Better Community Living, Inc. at 508-999-4300.