Increasing Access and Opportunity

Western's Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance is proud to support National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Held each October, NDEAM aims to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. NDEAM offers a wide variety of resources and learning opportunities to educate our employees on disability employment issues and the role they play in fostering a disability-friendly work culture.

This year marks not only the 75th observance of NDEAM, but also marks the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This landmark civil rights legislation works to increase access and opportunity for people with disabilities in our society, and in our workplaces. Learn more about the advancements in disability employment since the ADA's passage, by viewing the Disability & Employment Timeline

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and relevant local, state, and federal law, Western provides individuals with disabilities equal access to University programs and activities. The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodation in employment, education, and related programs and services to faculty, staff, and students with disabilities. This commitment includes architectural, technological and educational access. The applicable laws and University policy prohibits unfair employment practices because of a sensory, mental, or physical disability or use of a trained guide dog or service animal

We invite the Western community to join us in celebrating NDEAM this October and throughout the year. We encourage you to get involved, to share your commitment to inclusive workplaces with others, to voluntarily self-identify, and to promote this commemorative event.

To Get Involved 

There are many ways to celebrate NDEAM. Whether explored independently or as part of a team, the below suggestions are just a few of the ways that you can get involved:

 

To Self Identify

Western community members are invited to review and/or update your demographic information at any time by signing into the Personal Information section in Web4U. Submission of this information is voluntary and refusal to provide it will not subject you to any adverse treatment. The information obtained will be kept confidential and may only be used in accordance with the provisions of applicable federal laws, executive orders, and regulations, including those which require the information to be summarized and reported to the federal government for civil rights enforcement purposes.

Voluntarily self-identification is an important tool that provides an avenue for employees to share their diversity data so that their employers can implement strategies to build a culture that supports all employees, and measure their progress towards their diversity goals.