5 Ways to Participate in National Disability Employment Awareness Month
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). The purpose of NDEAM is to educate people about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities.
Here are 5 ways you can participate in NDEAM:
- Brush off your resume: Polish your existing resume or start from scratch. Remember, if you apply for more than one job, you may need to craft different resumes to emphasize the skills needed for particular positions.
- Work on your cover letter: Similar to your resume, you may need a different cover letter for each position. You may think cover letters are old fashioned, but many employers still want to see them when you apply.
- Learn about the Ticket to Work Program: Social Security's Ticket to Work(Ticket) Program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSDI/SSI) and want to work. The Ticket Program is free and voluntary. It connects you with free employment services to help you decide if working is right for you, prepare for work, find a job or be successful while you are working.
- Contact a Ticket to Work Program service provider: Through the Ticket Program, you can connect with service providers to help you prepare  for interviews through practice, find  new job postings or secure a reasonable accommodation at a new job.  Even after you start working, a Ticket Program service provider, like an Employment Network, may be able to help you navigate and find solutions for situations that arise in the workplace or ask for accommodations that will help you be successful.
- Attend a Work Incentive Seminar Event (WISE) webinar: Sign up for a free WISE Webinarto learn about the Ticket Program and other Work Incentives.
| Are you an employer or do you serve people with disabilities? Check out Understanding Ticket to Work: How to Help Your Clients and the People you Serve to learn how you can help raise awareness about the Ticket Program. Share our Ticket to Work fact sheet or submit your Disability Mentoring Day Event to the American Association of People with Disabilities. |
You can celebrate NDEAM all year long; but October is the perfect time to get started on your path to financial independence through employment. Ticket to Work Program service providers are ready to help.
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