NDEAM 2024 Spotlights

Held annually, NDEAM educates about disability employment issues and celebrates the contributions of America's workers with disabilities and the many leaders, both past and present, who have worked to increase access and equity for disabled people in the workplace. Below is ready-to-use social media content individuals and organizations can use to highlight some of these leaders and spread the NDEAM spirit, during October or any month of the year.

NDEAM 2024 Spotlights

Marca Bristo was a disability rights activist and independent living pioneer who was a key player in the passage of the #ADA. She founded @AccessLiving, co-founded @NCILAdvocacy and led @NatCounDis from 1994-2002. #NDEAM Spotlight

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Marca Bristo is placed in a colored circle against a blue-sky background. Underneath on a white background is a graphic image of a black, winding road leading up to the circle. Also includes #NDEAM Spotlight and dol.gov/odep in right top and bottom corners.

Kitty Cone was a disability rights activist who led the 150-person, 28-day 1977 sit-in at the San Francisco office of the US Department of Health, Education and Welfare, which led to the signing of regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. #NDEAM Spotlight

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Kitty Cone is placed in a colored circle against a blue-sky background. Underneath on a white background is a graphic image of a black, winding road leading up to the circle. Also includes #NDEAM Spotlight and dol.gov/odep in right top and bottom corners.

Lois Curtis’s lawsuit against the state of Georgia resulted in the Supreme Court’s landmark Olmstead decision, providing a legal basis for independent living and community integration, including through employment, for Americans with disabilities. #NDEAM Spotlight

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Lois Curtis is placed amongst in a colored circle against a blue-sky background. Underneath on a white background is a graphic image of a black, winding road leading up to the circle. Also includes #NDEAM Spotlight and dol.gov/odep in right top and bottom corners.

Justin Dart, Jr. was an activist & disability advocate known as the Godfather of the ADA. In 2010, he was inducted into the Labor Hall of Honor for his work to increase employment opportunities for Americans with disabilities.  #NDEAM Spotlight

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Justin Dart, Jr is placed in a colored circle against a blue-sky background. Underneath on a white background is a graphic image of a black, winding road leading up to the circle. Also includes #NDEAM Spotlight and dol.gov/odep in right top and bottom corners.

Lex Frieden is a disability rights advocate who played a significant role in the drafting and passing of the #ADA. He served as executive director of @NatCounDis in the 1980s and was later appointed as its chair in 2002. #NDEAM Spotlight

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Lex Frieden is placed in a colored circle against a blue-sky background. Underneath on a white background is a graphic image of a black, winding road leading up to the circle. Also includes #NDEAM Spotlight and dol.gov/odep in right top and bottom corners.

Haben Girma, the first deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School, is a human rights lawyer who advocates for disability justice and inclusion. #NDEAM Spotlight

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Haben Girma is placed in a colored circle against a blue-sky background. Underneath on a white background is a graphic image of a black, winding road leading up to the circle. Also includes #NDEAM Spotlight and dol.gov/odep in right top and bottom corners.

The first deaf Black female attorney in the U.S., Claudia Gordon has worked at @USDOL and @DHSgov and now works to increase diversity, inclusion and accessibility in the private sector. #NDEAM Spotlight

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Claudia Gordon is placed in a colored circle against a blue-sky background. Underneath on a white background is a graphic image of a black, winding road leading up to the circle. Also includes #NDEAM Spotlight and dol.gov/odep in right top and bottom corners.

Dr. Roy Grizzard was the first assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy, serving from 2002-2007. Prior to that, he spent 27 years with @HenricoSchools and six as Commissioner of the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired. #NDEAM Spotlight

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Dr. Roy Grizzard is placed amongst in a colored circle against a blue-sky background. Underneath on a white background is a graphic image of a black, winding road leading up to the circle. Also includes #NDEAM Spotlight and dol.gov/odep in right top and bottom corners.

Former Sen. Tom Harkin has advocated for increased employment opportunities for people with disabilities for decades, including authoring the ADA and serving as its chief sponsor in the Senate. Today he continues his work through @HarkinAtDrake & @HarkinSummit #NDEAM Spotlight

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Tom Harkin is placed in a colored circle against a blue-sky background. Underneath on a white background is a graphic image of a black, winding road leading up to the circle. Also includes #NDEAM Spotlight and dol.gov/odep in right top and bottom corners.

Judy Heumann was a lifelong leader of the international disability rights movement, contributing to important legislation including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. #NDEAM Spotlight

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Judy Heumann is placed amongst in a colored circle against a blue-sky background. Underneath on a white background is a graphic image of a black, winding road leading up to the circle. Also includes #NDEAM Spotlight and dol.gov/odep in right top and bottom corners.

I. King Jordan in 1988 became the first deaf president of Gallaudet University, the world's only university designed specifically for students who are deaf and hard of hearing. #NDEAM Spotlight

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I. King Jordan is placed in a colored circle against a blue-sky background. Underneath on a white background is a graphic image of a black, winding road leading up to the circle. Also includes #NDEAM Spotlight and dol.gov/odep in right top and bottom corners.

John D. Kemp, president and CEO of @LakeshoreFound and former head of the @ViscardiCenter, is a disability rights advocate and attorney who co-founded @AAPD and professionalized the U.S. Business Leadership Network, today known as @DisabilityIn. #NDEAM Spotlight

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John D. Kemp is placed in a colored circle against a blue-sky background. Underneath on a white background is a graphic image of a black, winding road leading up to the circle. Also includes #NDEAM Spotlight and dol.gov/odep in right top and bottom corners.

Disability advocate and communications consultant Andraea LaVant was impact producer for the award-winning @CripCampFilm, helping promote the documentary and use it as a force to foster dialogue about disability as a social equity issue. #NDEAM Spotlight

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Andraea La Vant is placed in a colored circle against a blue-sky background. Underneath on a white background is a graphic image of a black, winding road leading up to the circle. Also includes #NDEAM Spotlight and dol.gov/odep in right top and bottom corners.

Kathy Martinez previously served as president & CEO of @dralegal and was @USDOL’s assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy from 2009-2015. Before that, she was executive director of @WID_org, where she focused on economic empowerment for people with disabilities. #PWD #NDEAM Spotlight

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Kathy Martinez is placed in a colored circle against a blue-sky background. Underneath on a white background is a graphic image of a black, winding road leading up to the circle. Also includes #NDEAM Spotlight and dol.gov/odep in right top and bottom corners.

Attorney and author Haley Moss @haleymossart is an advocate who speaks frequently about #neurodiversity and disability's intersection with the legal profession. She was also the first documented openly autistic attorney to be sworn into the @TheFlaBar. #NDEAM Spotlight

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Haley Moss is placed amongst in a colored circle against a blue-sky background. Underneath on a white background is a graphic image of a black, winding road leading up to the circle. Also includes #NDEAM Spotlight and dol.gov/odep in right top and bottom corners.

Disability rights advocate Ari Ne’eman co-founded the Autistic Self Advocacy Network and was the first autistic person on the @NatCounDis, which he served on from 2010-2015. #NDEAM Spotlight

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Ari Ne'eman is placed amongst in a colored circle against a blue-sky background. Underneath on a white background is a graphic image of a black, winding road leading up to the circle. Also includes #NDEAM Spotlight and dol.gov/odep in right top and bottom corners.

As executive director of the Presidential Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities, Rebecca (Becky) Ogle proposed and designed the Office of Disability Employment Policy. #NDEAM Spotlight

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Becky Ogle is placed amongst in a colored circle against a blue-sky background. Underneath on a white background is a graphic image of a black, winding road leading up to the circle. Also includes #NDEAM Spotlight and dol.gov/odep in right top and bottom corners.

Disability rights activist Ed Roberts, known as the founder of the #IndependentLiving movement, was the first wheelchair user to attend @UCBerkeley and later served as director of @californiador and co-founded @WID_org. #NDEAM Spotlight

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Ed Roberts, Jr is placed in a colored circle against a blue-sky background. Underneath on a white background is a graphic image of a black, winding road leading up to the circle. Also includes #NDEAM Spotlight and dol.gov/odep in right top and bottom corners.

Neil Romano, former assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy (2008-2009) and National Council on Disability Chair, advocates for increased disability inclusion in employment and all aspects of community life as a member of the @NatCounDis. #NDEAM Spotlight

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Neil Romano is placed in a colored circle against a blue-sky background. Underneath on a white background is a graphic image of a black, winding road leading up to the circle. Also includes #NDEAM Spotlight and dol.gov/odep in right top and bottom corners.

Henry Viscardi, Jr., a leading disability advocate and founder of the @ViscardiCenter, was committed to improving quality of life for people with disabilities, including through employment. Today, the annual Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards honor his legacy. #NDEAM Spotlight

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Henry Viscardi, Jr is placed in a colored circle against a blue-sky background. Underneath on a white background is a graphic image of a black, winding road leading up to the circle. Also includes #NDEAM Spotlight and dol.gov/odep in right top and bottom corners.

Alice Wong is a disability rights advocate who founded the Disability Visibility Project, which collects oral histories of #PWD. In 2015, Wong, who has a neuromuscular disorder, became the 1st person to visit the White House via telepresence robot.  #NDEAM Spotlight

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Alice Wong is placed amongst in a colored circle against a blue-sky background. Underneath on a white background is a graphic image of a black, winding road leading up to the circle. Also includes #NDEAM Spotlight and dol.gov/odep in right top and bottom corners.