BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:
Title
Resolution Recognizing the 28th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Commemorating October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
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RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Adopt the Resolution RECOGNIZING THE 28th ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT and COMMEMORATING OCTOBER AS NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH.
Body
SUMMARY:
Twenty-eight years ago, in July of 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It is one of the most comprehensive piece of civil rights legislation in America that prohibits discrimination and guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, and public and private places that are open to the general public. It is modeled after, and affords similar protections to, the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Distinct from the Civil Rights Act, however, the ADA also requires covered employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities, and imposes accessibility requirements on public accommodations.
The District's Reasonable Accommodation program is available for staff with qualified disabilities and complies with the ADA law.
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. It is also a way to celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. The theme for 2018 is "America's Workforce: EMPOWERING ALL."
The history of NDEAM dates back to 1945, when Congress enacted a law declaring 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, ...
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