News

AMC Networks will be airing the CDE’s “Who I Am” public service announcement on-air and online throughout National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) 2020. It’s all part of AMC Networks’ Visibility Collection—featured programming that spotlights and celebrates people living with disabilities. The Visibility Collection includes the all-new series of short films CripTales, Critics’ Choice Award-winner Push Girls, and Peabody Award-nominee This Close, which has received the Ruderman Family Foundation Seal of Authentic Representation. The collection will be available to stream for free (no log-in required) throughout October 2020. The CDE is grateful to AMC Networks for making the “Who I Am” PSA a part of its NDEAM programming!

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced that “Increasing Access and Opportunity” is the 2020 theme for October’s annual observance of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This year’s NDEAM observation, the nation’s 75th, will be one of the culminating events of DOL’s year–long observance of the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which centers on the same theme. Read the DOL press release or learn more about NDEAM.

The Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) and its funding entity, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), care about the health and safety of America’s workers, at all times. In response to the evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, DOL has compiled a list of resources to help. Read the DOL press release and access DOL’s coronavirus web page.

This year marks 30 years since a major milestone in our nation’s history—the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In honor of ADA30, the Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) has released its “Who I Am” public service announcement (PSA) as a national radio PSA. Originally launched in 2014 as a television spot, “Who I Am” features nine real people with disabilities—some obvious and some not—sharing how they describe themselves, from personal interests to family relationships to occupations. Among them is film and television actor RJ Mitte, best known for his roles in AMC’s “Breaking Bad” and ABC Family’s “Switched at Birth.” Rather than be defined by disability, these individuals are the sum of their many life roles—which includes working in jobs they love. To learn how to air this and other CDE PSAs in your local market, contact the CDE.

The Campaign for Disability Employment’s (CDE) latest public service announcement (PSA) campaign has won a communications industry award. The “Working Works” PSA and its supporting products received a Gold level MarCom Award in the PSA Campaign category. The MarCom Awards are an international creative competition that recognizes outstanding achievement by marketing and communication professionals. About 6,000 entries were submitted by those ranging from individual communicators to media conglomerates and Fortune 500 companies. Learn more about the winning entries.

Ready to “Say Cheese”? The Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) is excited to host our latest photo-sharing campaign. To help celebrate this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month theme, we’re inviting people with disabilities and other friends of the CDE to share photos on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram highlighting why they’re “The Right Talent, RightNow.” Just post a photo of yourself in the workplace using the hashtag #RightTalentRightNow. To learn more and download signs to hold in your photo, visit the CDE’s photo-sharing web page.

A hard-copy DVD of the Campaign for Disability Employment’s (CDE) “Working Works” public service announcement (PSA) is now available for mail order. This new resource includes an accessible, talking menu DVD with various versions of the PSA, as well as three discussion guides intended to spark conversations about the PSA’s stay-at-work/return-to-work message among co-workers, employer representatives and healthcare professionals. The package is available free of charge in both English and Spanish. View the discussion guides and order the DVD.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy has announced that this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) theme will be The Right Talent, Right Now. Held every October, NDEAM is a fitting time to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. Find tools and ideas for celebrating NDEAM, including the 2019 NDEAM poster, which can be downloaded or ordered by mail.

Want to learn more about the individuals featured in the Campaign for Disability Employment’s (CDE) “Working Works” public service announcement (PSA)? Three new videos feature interviews with several of its cast members, including: Bruce Goebel, a cabinet maker who had a machinery accident that severed his right hand; Chanelle Houston, a research analyst who experienced a spinal cord injury in 2009; and Ish Escobar, a veteran with service-connected disabilities. In the videos, Bruce, Chanelle and Ish talk about their experiences returning to work after injury or illness and the important role that different people—including employers, colleagues, healthcare professionals and family members—played in supporting them along the way. View the videos and read the bios of the PSA cast members.

Working works. It lets people earn a living and contribute their skills and experience. For some, it may also be about pursuing a passion, taking on new challenges or being part of a team. During a Twitter chat on March 21, 2019 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET, the CDE will explore the many reasons people work and the important roles different people—including employers, colleagues, healthcare professionals and family members—play in helping individuals who become ill or injured remain in the workforce. Joining in the conversation will be special guest Chanelle Houston, one of the participants in the CDE’s “Working Works” PSA, who will share her experiences returning to work after a spinal cord injury nine years ago. To participate, join Twitter at the designated time using the hashtag #WorkingWorks.

Today, in honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) launched its latest PSA campaign, “Working Works.” Through the voices of several individuals, the PSA explores the many reasons people work, including after injury or illness. Its four primary cast members include Major League Baseball great Cal Ripken, Jr. and three other individuals who partnered with their employers and health-care professionals to make a plan to stay at or return to work following illness or injury. Their stories emphasize the importance of working together on supportive work strategies—for the benefit of individuals, families, employers and the nation. “Working Works” is the fourth in the CDE’s series of PSAs exploring different aspects of disability employment. To learn more, visit the “Working Works” toolkit.

The Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) has won another industry award. The initiative received a Gold level MarCom Award in the category of website redesign, as well as an honorable mention in the government website category. The MarCom Awards are an international creative competition that recognizes outstanding achievement by marketing and communication professionals. About 6,000 entries were submitted by those ranging from individual communicators to media conglomerates and Fortune 500 companies. Learn more about the winning entries.

The Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) website was recently honored with a 2018 Platinum dotCOMM Award in the Government Website category. The award, which honors excellence in web creativity and digital communication, was presented in recognition of the CDE’s revamped website, WhatCanYouDoCampaign.org, which launched earlier this year. The website’s new look and structure have been integral in our mission to promote positive messages about the skills and talents that people with disabilities bring to America’s workplaces and economy.  See the full list of dotCOMM winners.

The U.S. Business Leadership Network (USBLN), a founding member of the Campaign for Disability Employment, has rebranded to Disability:IN to better reflect its strengthened mission of empowering businesses to capitalize on the talents of people with disabilities. The new brand was launched July 10 in Las Vegas at the organization’s annual conference and expo, which attracted more than 1,500 people representing businesses and organizations committed to advancing the employment of people with disabilities. Since its inception, Disability:IN has helped 160 partner businesses attract more than 10,000 candidates with disabilities. Learn more about the rebranding.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy has announced that this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) theme will be America’s Workforce: Empowering All. “A workforce that empowers everyone is good for job seekers as well as job creators,” said the U.S. Secretary of Labor when announcing the theme. “Over the past year, the unemployment rate for individuals with disabilities has significantly declined. Continued steady job creation will provide even more opportunities for all Americans to get hired and provide for their families.” Held every October, NDEAM is a fitting time to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. More information on NDEAM 2018, including the official poster, will be released in coming weeks. Find tools and ideas for celebrating NDEAM.

For many people, work provides not only a paycheck, but also purpose and the opportunity to live an independent, self-directed life. So when significant injury or illness occurs, workers can face difficult choices, including whether to stay at or return to work when feasible. If they leave the labor force for a period of time, they may have understandable concerns about how working will impact disability benefits and services. If they stay at or return to their previous place of employment, they—and their employers—may have legitimate questions about how to ensure a smooth process. During a Twitter chat on May 31, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET, the CDE will welcome experts from Social Security’s Ticket to Work Program and the Office of Disability Employment Policy’s Job Accommodation Network to answer questions about both scenarios. To join the discussion, use #CDEChat.

Ready to “Say Cheese”? The Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) is excited to announce the launch of our first ever photo-sharing effort! To help spread the message that, “At work, it’s what people CAN do that matters,” we’re inviting people with disabilities and other friends of the CDE to share photos on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram that highlight what they CAN do at work. Just use the hashtag #ICanCDE when you post your photo.

To participate on Facebook, consider changing your profile photo to a picture for the campaign, and then add our customized photo frame. Or, you can print and hold this sign in your photo and post it to your feeds on all three platforms.

Don’t forget to make your posts accessible by describing your photos in the captions of your posts. (Twitter and Facebook also allow you to add alt-text descriptions to your images.)

We can’t wait to see your photos illustrating the many contributions of people with disabilities—all across social media and in workplaces far and wide.

The Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) is delighted to welcome the National Organization on Disability (NOD) as the campaign’s latest Member. In its new role, NOD will meet regularly with the Office of Disability Employment Policy and fellow CDE Members to help steer the multi-faceted campaign and amplify its messages. NOD is a private, non-profit organization that promotes the full participation and contributions of America’s people with disabilities in all aspects of life. Much of NOD’s activities focus on increasing employment opportunities for the 80-percent of working-age Americans with disabilities who are not employed. To learn more, visit www.nod.org.

Disability-friendly workplaces are about more than hiring; they’re about facilitating a supportive culture across an organization’s employment lifecycle, from application to onboarding to advancement. On January 17, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. ET, the Campaign for Disability Employment will explore this concept during a Twitter chat with its Member the Employer Assistance and Resource Network (EARN). Representatives from EARN will be on hand to discuss its new employer policy framework outlining seven core components of a disability-friendly workplace. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with EARN and others to learn and share how these components can and are being put into practice by businesses both large and small. 

The official poster for National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2017 is now available to order for free in print or electronic copy in English and Spanish from the Office of Disability Employment Policy’s website! Show how “Inclusion Drives Innovation” by displaying these colorful and dynamic posters in your business, organization, classroom or wherever you would like to share the message of NDEAM. Get the posters.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy has announced that this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month theme will be “Inclusion Drives Innovation.” “Americans of all abilities must have access to good, safe jobs,” said the U.S. Secretary of Labor when announcing the theme. “Smart employers know that including different perspectives in problem-solving situations leads to better solutions. Hiring employees with talents and abilities strengthens their business, increases competition and drives innovation.” Find tools and ideas for celebrating NDEAM.

The Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) is delighted to be teaming up with the Social Security Administration (SSA) Ticket to Work program on its next Twitter chat. Scheduled for Thursday, June 29 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET, the chat will explore tips and resources to help people with disabilities find job training and employment support. To participate in the chat, please log on to Twitter and use #DEChat.

Mark your calendar! In recognition of the 27th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) and our founding Member the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) are hosting a Twitter chat on Thursday, July 27, 2017 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET. Titled “#ADA27CDE – Celebrating 27 Years of the ADA,” the chat will feature special guest Tracie DeFreitas, a Lead Consultant at JAN. Don’t miss this chance to engage with Tracie and others in an online discussion about the basics of accommodations and the critical role they play in maximizing employee productivity and creating a supportive workplace culture. To participate in the conversation, please use the hashtag #ADA27CDE.

The Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) is pleased to announce that the Employer Assistance and Resource Network (EARN) has joined the campaign’s membership slate. As such, it will join the CDE’s other seven members in shaping and steering the campaign’s products and future activities. Funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy under a cooperative agreement, EARN is a free resource that helps employers tap the benefits of people with disabilities. Learn more about EARN.

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) and the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) are hosting a Twitter chat on Thursday, May 11, 2017 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET. Titled “#CDEMentalHealth: Creating Supportive Work Environments for People with Mental Health Disabilities,” the chat will feature special guest Andy Imparato, Executive Director of AUCD. Don’t miss this chance to engage with Andy and others in an online discussion about helping people with mental health disabilities thrive in the workplace. To participate in the conversation, please use the hashtag #CDEMentalHealth. Sample questions that will be posed during the chat include the following:

Q: What do you feel are the pros of being open about a mental health disability at work?
Q: What can employers do to be supportive of people with mental health disabilities?
Q: What are some accommodations that have helped you thrive at work?
Q: What strategies have you used to request accommodations for a mental health disability?
Q: How do you balance caring for your mental health with working?
Q: What resources on workplace mental health do you recommend employers know about?
Q:What do you think all workplaces can do to combat stigma around mental heath disabilities?

The Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) has announced that its three national public service announcements will be screened during the ReelAbilities Film Festival, which takes place March 9 – 12, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Thousands are expected for the Hollywood style film screening extravaganza, including notable celebrities and disability thought leaders. Among them are keynote speaker RJ Mitte, well known for his role as Walter “Flynn” White on the AMC hit “Breaking Bad” and one of the participants in the CDE’s “Who I Am” PSA. The festival will include events, workshops, speakers and more than 60 powerful films that showcase the stories, lives and art of people who experience disabilities.

In honor of National Mentoring Month, the National Down Syndrome Society is hosting a free webinar on the value of career mentorship for youth with disabilities. Among the speakers will be Derek Shields, co-chair of the National Disability Mentoring Coalition. Scheduled for January 30 at 1 p.m. ET, the online event will explore various disability mentoring program models, tips for effective networking and personal stories from the front lines of mentoring. The event will also showcase CDE tools and resources that support the concepts of mentoring and career preparation for youth with disabilities. To register and learn more, visit the webinar registration page.

In honor of National Mentoring Month and “I Am a Mentor Day,” ODEP’s Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) and its member organization the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) are hosting a Twitter chat on Thursday, January 12, 2017 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET. The chat will feature special guest Derek Shields, co-chair of the National Disability Mentoring Coalition, who will help generate an online discussion about career mentoring and its role in the employment success of people with disabilities, especially those who are new to the workforce. To participate in this important Twitter conversation, please use the hashtag #DisabilityMentors.

Please join the Campaign for Disability Employment and the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society on October 18 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET for a Twitter chat featuring special guest Curtis Pride, former Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder, current Gallaudet University Head Baseball Coach and MLB Ambassador. Held in honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), the theme of the chat is “Fielding a Full Team in the Workplace.” The chat will focus on what people with disabilities can do to knock their career goals out of the park—and how employers can step up to the plate to support a full team in their workplaces.

On Thursday, July 28 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET, the Campaign for Disability Employment is hosting its first Twitter chat on advancing the employment prospects of youth and young adults with disabilities. Held in honor of the 26th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the chat will serve as a prelude to this October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) by highlighting why supportive workplace practices are so important for the current generation of youth with disabilities who are either transitioning to or just starting out in the workforce. The chat will explore what today’s post-ADA generation of youth with disabilities see as key to their workplace success—and the ways in which employers can support them. To participate in the Twitter chat, use the hashtag #CDEYouth.

Today, the Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) announced that it is now on Instagram! With a strong focus on positive imagery and messages about disability and employment, the campaign’s Instagram presence will help further showcase our core message that “at work, it’s what people CAN do that matters.” Follow the CDE on Instagram.

The Campaign for Disability Employment has new materials that can help businesses express their commitment to the employment of people with disabilities. The free materials include a discussion guide and posters that are centered on the new video public service announcement titled “Who I Am.” The PSA features nine people with disabilities sharing the many ways they describe themselves, from personal interests to family relationships to occupations. The discussion guide and posters are available in English and Spanish. Learn more and download the “Who I Am” materials.