It’s NDEAM Month!
Opportunity Village Joins Broad Effort to Observe National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
Nationwide campaign will take place in October!
For NDEAM Proclamation, please click HERE!
LAS VEGAS — Opportunity Village today announced its participation in National Disability Employment Awareness Month, an annual awareness campaign that takes place each October. 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. This year’s theme is “America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion”
The history of National Disability Employment Awareness Month traces back to 1945 when Congress enacted a law declaring the first week in October each year “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.” In 1962, the word “physically” was removed to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
“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, throughout the month, Opportunity Village will be engaging in a variety of activities to educate the community on disability employment issues and its commitment to an inclusive work culture. These efforts include highlighting Opportunity Village’s mission and raising $25,000.
The overarching emphasis of the campaign will focus on the job developer role and how it pertains to the people Opportunity Village serves. Each week OV will highlight a person who has reached their goal of successful employment and the impact COVID-19 has had on their job, integrating OV’s mission and the national theme for this month.
“Opportunity Village is proud to be a part of this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month,” said Molly Robinson, Annual Giving Manager. “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.
For ways to support Opportunity Village for NDEAM visit https://www.opportunityvillage.org/what-we-do/events/ndeam-ov
About Opportunity Village
Mission: Opportunity Village is a not-for-profit organization that serves people within the Southern Nevada community with significant intellectual disabilities, to enrich their lives and the lives of their families.
Seven families who were determined to give their children with disabilities the best lives possible founded Opportunity Village in 1954. Now, more than six decades later, Opportunity Village is one of the most recognized and respected organizations of its type in the United States.
Nevada’s largest employer of people with disabilities, Opportunity Village serves over 3,000 individuals annually, providing vocational training, employment, habilitation and social recreation programs and services that improve their lives.
Folks supported in Opportunity Village’s Prevocational Training Programs and in jobs provided by the organization throughout the community, have collectively earned wages amounting to more than $3.7 million in 2020. They are hardworking and diligent, proudly paying taxes and happily leading fulfilling lives.
Primarily a self-funded organization, Opportunity Village generates the majority of its operational funding through its employment contracts, multiple business lines, fundraising efforts such as the Magical Forest and Great Santa Run, and grants on the federal and state level, saving Nevada taxpayers more than $37 million annually.
PRESS CONTACTS
Erin Mowry, R&R Partners
erin.mowry@rrpartners.com
202.964.6890
Marty Wood, Opportunity Village
woodm@opportunityvillage.org
702.234.5322
