The Right Talent, Right Now: Ticket to Work and NDEAM

Each October, we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). The purpose of NDEAM 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 "The Right Talent, Right Now."

During NDEAM and throughout the year, Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) program is proud to recognize and celebrate the successes of people with disabilities in the workplace while providing the services and supports that help many succeed.

History of NDEAM

NDEAM can be traced back to 1945 when Congress declared 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.

Ticket to Work and NDEAM

The Ticket program is dedicated to sharing the message that you have the right talent, right now, to achieve your work goals. During NDEAM, and all year, the Ticket program supports that message by offering free career development services and supports for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSDI/SSI) and want to work.

Service providers, like Employment Networks (EN) and State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies recognize that job seekers with disabilities have the talents and skills that employers are looking for and can help individuals identify their work goals, write and edit their resumes, prepare for interviews and transition to the workplace with success.

Here's how you can get started:

• Call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Representatives can start answering some of your questions about benefits and work and send you a list of service providers.
• Use the Find Help tool to search for service providers who serve your area. Use the filters to narrow results to find the services and supports you're looking for.
• Attend a WISE webinar! Our monthly webinar series features information about various employment topics to help you on the path to financial independence through work. This month, we'll discuss choosing a service provider that's right for you. Register now.
• Learn more about Work Incentives and other supports available in our Choose Work library of fact sheets.
• Learn how the Ticket program has helped others succeed by reading a Ticket to Work success story.
• Subscribe to the Choose Work! Blog to discover information and resources that can help you reach your career goals. Learn about topics like working from home, self-employment and soft skills to help you prepare for and succeed in the workplace!