October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month

A message from University of Hawaiʻi President David Lassner dated Oct. 4:

Aloha,

National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is an annual campaign that sheds light on disability employment through education and celebrates the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. Noting that this is an important element of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), this year’s theme is “Disability: Part of the Equity Equation.”

As you have been advised, our Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action (EEO/AA) team has put together a webinar series this month on topics related to disability employment, reasonable accommodation, accessibility and its commitment to an inclusive culture. More information is available at this website, and I strongly encourage everyone to register there.

We have made a lot of progress since the 1990 passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. And there is still more to be done. We must remain committed to reducing barriers, changing perceptions, and increasing full participation for individuals with disabilities when it comes to living, learning and working.

If you have not already done so, please take just a few moments to indicate your own veteran and/or disability status in this simple voluntary two-question employee survey using your UH login. This information will be confidential and submitted directly to the EEO/AA Office. It will be used only for federal reporting purposes and will not affect your current employment.

If you would like more information on the ADA or wish to request a reasonable accommodation at work, please refer to this list of campus ADA Coordinators.

Mahalo for your support of this important campaign celebrating NDEAM.
David Lassner
UH President