This October, Goodwill Industries International is joining the nation in acknowledging the importance of employees with disabilities — a vital component of the U.S. labor force — during National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This year's celebration marks 70 years since President Truman authorized Congress to officially recognize workers with disabilities.
This year's theme, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor — "My Disability Is One Part of Who I Am" — underscores the fact that employees with disabilities bring a wide variety of skills to the table. They make up nearly 20 percent of America's workforce, yet their unemployment rate is more than twice that of workers without disabilities. It is crucial that American employers continue to make efforts to hire workers of all backgrounds and abilities.
For 113 years, Goodwill has worked tirelessly to support job seekers with disabilities and specialized circumstances through training, placement and employment efforts. Locally, Goodwill Industries-Knoxville has been providing vocational training and employment opportunities for individuals with barriers to employment for over 40 years
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