Fairfax County Department of Family Services is proud to participate in National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Held each October, NDEAM aims to recognize the essential role people with disabilities play in our nation’s economic success through employment. NDEAM was created by Congress in 1945 to honor the contributions and achievements of people with disabilities in the workforce, and to reaffirm the commitment to addressing disability-related employment disparities.

This year’s theme is "Access to Good Jobs for All" and highlights the importance of increasing the quantity and quality of employment opportunities for people with disabilities. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 75.2% of the working-age population (aged 16 to 64) without disabilities were employed in July 2024, while that number was only 36.9% for persons with a disability. These statistics encourage the conversation on how we might improve job prospects for those with a disability. 

Fairfax County Department of Family Services organizes an annual Employment Mentoring Day event in celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. 

Employment Mentoring Day is hosted by the Disability Rights and Resources (DRR) unit in partnership with the Fairfax County School District. This event provides students with disabilities opportunities to explore potential career paths that exist within local government, gain insight from current employees and former interns on their experiences, and find out the next steps to take toward employment.

In addition, DRR oversees several initiatives throughout the year designed to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in county employment. This includes their John Hudson Internship Program and their Employment Development Training Program, two paid internship programs for students with disabilities.

We hope that these initiatives will empower those with disabilities to identify a trove of opportunities and pursue their passions.

Statistics were sourced from the Current Population Survey, Bureau of Labor Statistics.