The month of October, we celebrate a lot of festivals, and we commemorate a number of significant events. One of which is the Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM). DEAM is a time that we recognize the people with disabilities in the workforce. It aims to bring awareness that their disabilities are not a reason for them not to contribute in the workplace despite the barriers they experienced. It also encourages workplaces across country to create inclusive and accessible environments for all.
In 2010, the Province of Manitoba made DEAM official in Canada. In 2011, Saskatchewan followed suit, and shortly after, proclamations were also obtained by British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, and New Brunswick. Since then, committed employment service providers and community organizations have given DEAM life by planning events to involve businesses, job applicants with disabilities, and the general public in promoting the advantages of inclusive hiring.
DEAM offers a significant chance to talk about, investigate, and work together to resolve this pressing problem. The Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE), together with its members and its community partners, will commemorate the enormous contributions that people with disabilities make to our workplaces and communities each and every day in October.
According to statistics, one out of five Nova Scotians, aged 15 and above, is identified with disability. As the population grows, this number will increase. This is one of the main reasons why the municipality is committed in improving accessibility and inclusion across their organization; their programs and services; and in the communities they serve.
The Office of Diversity & Inclusion/ANSAIO created an accessibility strategy in support of this objective and in accordance with the provincial accessibility framework, which was unanimously adopted by Regional Council in May 2021.
The City Hall will also be illuminated with blue and purple on the 20th of October. This is in recognition of the DEAM Light It Up! awareness campaign.
More to this story at https://www.halifax.ca/about-halifax/diversity-inclusion/accessibility/national-employer-disability-awareness-month#:~:text=October%20is%20National%20Disability%20Employment,with%20disabilities%20in%20the%20workforce.
References:
https://www.halifax.ca/
https://supportedemployment.ca/deam/
Photo by Moe Magners: https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-brainstorming-at-a-meeting-7495610/
