Secretary Chao Announces 2005 National Disability Employment
Awareness Month Theme — "Workers with Disabilities: Ready for
Tomorrows
Jobs Today

WASHINGTON—Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao this week announced the official theme for October's National Disability Employment Awareness Month — Workers with Disabilities: Ready for Tomorrow's Jobs Today.

This year's theme emphasizes that people with disabilities are a vital part of America's workforcethey are important to our country's future economic success! said Chao. The President's New Freedom Initiative recognizes the tremendous contributions and potential of persons with disabilities and promotes greater job opportunities in high growth sectors of the economy, such as healthcare and advanced manufacturing.

The theme will be used by the private sector, federal, state and local governments, and advocacy organizations to plan events and programs that showcase the abilities and skills of job candidates who have disabilities.

People with disabilities are and will continue to be an important part of the nation's labor pool, and this year's theme reflects that fact, said Roy Grizzard, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy.

The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) is the nation's first assistant secretary-level office specifically addressing policies that impact the employment of people with disabilities. Collaborating with other Labor Department agenciesthe Employment and Training Administration and the Civil Rights CenterODEP has developed methods, including a disability checklist, to make the 3500 One-Stop Career Centers nationwide better serve people with disabilities.

Public Law 176, enacted by Congress in 1945, designated the first week in October as National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week. President Harry S. Truman designated the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities to carry out the law. Congress changed the name to National Disability Employment Awareness Month in 1988. The responsibility for leading the nationwide recognition was transferred to ODEP in 2001.

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Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.