Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Discapacidad: Parte de la Ecuación de Equidad. Mes nacional deconcientización sobre el empleo de personas con discapacidades.

NRCS Caribbean Celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month

NRCS Caribbean observes NDEAM each October to celebrate the contributions of workers with disabilities and educate about the value of a workforce inclusive of their skills and talents. 2022 marks the 77th observance of NDEAM and the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The 2022 theme “Disability: Part of the Equity Equation,” reflects the important role people with disabilities play in a diverse and inclusive American workforce.

32 years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act codified the promise of an equal opportunity for everyone who worked hard, and in the years since, Americans with disabilities have reached extraordinary heights. NRCS urges everyone to embrace the talents and skills that individuals with disabilities bring to our workplaces and communities and to promote the right to equal employment opportunity for all people. NDEAM is a time for celebration but it is also a time for action. When it comes to building a workplace inclusive of the skills and talents of people with disabilities, not all employers know where to start. The key lies in fostering a disability-inclusive culture.

Living with Disabilities statistics from the US Census Bureau

Quick Facts

  • 41.1 million - The number of people in the United States with a disability in 2019, representing 12.7 percent of the civilian non-institutionalized population. People with a disability have a physical or mental impairment that affects one or more major life activities, such as walking, bathing, dressing, eating, preparing meals, doing errands alone or doing housework. A disability can occur at birth or at any point in a person’s life.
  • 40.8 million or 12.7% - The total U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population with a disability during the five-year period from 2016-2020. 
  • 7.7 million - The total U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population ages 18 to 64 with a disability employed from 2016-2020.
  • 11.5 million - The number of people in 2019 who reported being deaf or having significant difficulty hearing. Among the population age 65 and older, 7.2 million reported being deaf or having significant difficulty hearing.
  • 7.5 million - The number of people in 2019 who had serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses. Among people age 65 and older, 3.2 million had serious difficulty seeing.
  • 20.8 million - The number of people in 2019 who had serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs. Among people age 65 and older, 11.3 million had serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Disability: Part of the Equity Equation. National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2022.

More Information

Contacts

  • Axel Acevedo, Disability Special Emphasis Program Manager (SEPM), 787-896-3565 x103 or 939-759-4895
  • Michelle Catoni, CRAC Chair, 787-894-1480 x110 or 939-759-4899
  • National Disability SEPM, Charles Thomas, 202-934-3400
  • Human Resources Specialist (Diversity and Recruitment), Diversity and Recruitment Branch, Workforce Management Division, Demitrice Boozer, 301-504-3784

< back to Caribbean Civil Rights page