Advancing Access and Equity: Honoring National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Article Published on October 13, 2023

In October, Americans observe National Disability Employment Awareness Month by paying tribute to the accomplishments of the men and women with disabilities whose work helps keep the nation’s economy strong and by reaffirming their commitment to ensure equal opportunity for all citizens.

This year is the 50th anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act, which was a landmark step in providing equal access for people with disabilities by removing architectural, employment, and transportation barriers. It also prohibits federal agencies, or recipients of federal funds, from discriminating against individuals with disabilities.

The Americans with Disabilities Act, passed in 1990, extended the protections from discrimination to private employers, state and local governments, employment agencies, and labor unions.

But the fight continues, and much work remains to be done, including fully recognizing the immense contribution of disabled Americans and continuing the fight to ensure equal dignity, respect, and opportunity for all Americans.

Local 1000’s Accessibility Committee—one of 10 Human Rights Committees in our Union—spends all 12 months of the year working to ensure that accessibility for disabled workers is a vital part of the equity equation.

About Local 1000’s Accessibility Committee

This Committee develops the affirmative action plan for recruitment and training of disabled members as job stewards, bargaining unit representatives, committee members, and officers. They also recommend actions to remove barriers to participation and activism by disabled members and help District Labor Councils (DLCs) create strategies regarding issues affecting disabled workers. The Disabled in State Workforce Committee recommends appropriate steward and leadership training modules on issues affecting the disabled in the workplace and coordinates their activities with the other Local 1000 committees.

Learn more about Local 1000’s Accessibility Committee and get in touch here.