National Disability Employment Awareness Month, 2017

This proclamation designates October 2017 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month, celebrating workers with disabilities and calling for recognition through programs and ceremonies. It also directs the Department of Labor, Social Security Administration, and other federal agencies to identify strategies to help people stay at work or return to work after disability due to injury or health conditions.

Federal Register Open PDF 82 FR 46353

Key directives

Directs Department of Labor, Social Security Administration, and other Federal agencies to identify effective strategies to help people stay at work or return to work
Focuses on early intervention with Americans recently rendered disabled due to injury or a health condition
Calls upon government and labor leaders, employers, and the American people to recognize the month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Proclamation takes effect upon signing
October 2017 designated as National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Near term (90d)

Federal agencies to identify effective strategies for helping people stay at work or return to work

Long term

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Risks & tensions

Directive to agencies lacks specific deadline or reporting requirement
No funding or enforcement mechanism specified for agency strategies
Early intervention focus may not address systemic barriers for long-term disabled workers