While Maureen Duffy, VisionAware’s Social Media Specialist, is away, we want to update you on some very special events taking place this month. Since October is such a busy month, this update will take two blog posts!
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). The purpose is to raise awareness about disability employment issues and to celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. This year’s theme is “A Strong Workforce is an Inclusive Workforce: What Can YOU Do?”
According to the Office of Disability Employment at the US Department of Labor, NDEAM’s roots go back to 1945, when Congress enacted a law declaring the first week in October each year “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.” In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to “National Disability Employment Awareness Month.” For more information about activities related to this special month visit the DOL website.
VisionAware has a special section on employment of older workers with vision loss. Listen to our radio dramas—Stay in the Employment Game and Finding a Job Can be Murder. You can also find personal stories about working life on VisionAware and on CareerConnect.
October is also Eye Injury Prevention Month and Home Eye Safety Month. VisionAware’s Home Repair safety check list includes pointers for protecting your eyes such as wearing safety goggles, as well as a section on protecting your upper body from injury.
Here is what the American Academy of Ophthalmology has to say about preventing eye injury.
Did you know that nearly half (44.7 percent) of all eye injuries occurred in the home, as reported during the fifth-annual Eye Injury Snapshot, conducted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Ocular Trauma. Don’t be a statistic! Protect your eyes!