NDEAM/Employer Challenge
National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and Employer Challenge
October is NDEAM
Held annually, this October marks the 80th Annual National Disability Employment Awareness Month, led by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy. It's true spirit lies in the many observances held at the grassroots level across the nation every year. Employers of all sizes and in all industries are encouraged to participate in NDEAM. The theme for 2025 is "Celebrating Value and Talent."
The most recent data from the American Community Survey (ACS) shows that the employment-to-population ratio for people with disabilities ages 18-64 in Colorado reached 50.7% in August 2025, with the national figure being only 41.8%.
Why this is important to us at DVR:
- We believe in the importance of employment and that it is a social determinant of health.
- We believe in the employability of all people with disabilities, and
- We believe that disability is an integral component of Employment for All.
Events
NDEAM Celebration
Join Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera, along with members from the State Rehabilitation Council, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), and more, to celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month!
Celebrate staff, businesses, and employers who have championed employment for Coloradans with disabilities. Watch Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera's newest documentary, A Colorado for All - A Legacy of Accessibility. Meet and network with business owners, lawmakers, and folks with disabilities who have worked together to make Colorado one of the top states for people with disabilities.
- When: October 23, 2025, Thursday, at 10:00 a.m.
- Where: State Capitol Building, East Foyer, Denver
- RSVP for the NDEAM Celebration!
Pathways to Progress
Workforce Colorado Pikes Peak and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation are hosting FOUR free virtual workshops in honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Get the tools you need to build a modern, thriving business by creating a workplace where everyone has a pathway to success! ASL Interpretation will be provided. Please reach out to Linda Wray with any other accommodation requests.
- Reasonable Accommodation: Join Jana Burke from the Great Plains ADA to discover how simple changes can make a big impact. October 7, 2025; 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
- Digital Accessibility: Join Julie Brinkoff of the Great Plains ADA and the University of Missouri to make sure your digital presence is welcoming to everyone. October 16, 2025; 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
- Universal Design: Troy Baltshazort shows us how to build a better experience for all. October 21, 2025 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
- Skills-First Hiring: Erica Romero of the Pikes Peak Workforce Center shares how to find the best talent by focusing on what truly matters. October 30, 2025; 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Celebrate Employment with Colorado Association of People Supporting Employment First (CO APSE)!
October 21, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.
Celebrate Employment will elevate employment stories from across Colorado by encouraging an interactive discussion between featured panelists with lived experience and attendees. Attendees will have the opportunity to discover how the featured panelists have found work meaningful to their lives and goals. Attendees will also be encouraged to share their own meaningful experiences and perspectives.
Celebrating Value and Talent with Mesa County Workforce and the Division of Voc Rehab
October 23, 2025 at 10:00 am or 1:00 p.m.
We’re live and in-person in Mesa County! Companies with a plan to hire and keep the talent you need have reduced turnover costs and higher earning potential. Join our Disability Awareness and Etiquette training to hire smarter, retain top performers, and strengthen workplace culture. Register now and share our flyer!
Commit to Hiring and Retaining People with Disabilities
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) and DVR challenge employers to commit to hiring and retaining individuals with disabilities by recognizing that this untapped talent pool is key to achieving an equal and open workplace.
DVR is committed to partnering with you to achieve these goals and meet the individualized needs of your business.
We offer a variety of resources for disability in the workplace, trainings, and services to support your business, including customizable workshops available at no cost. Contact our Business Relations Team now to get started!
The 2025 Employer Challenge is now live!
In 2025, a changing workforce landscape is inevitably towering over employment decisions, and understanding the best strategies for meeting this challenge can be overwhelming. Implementing changes for equal and open opportunities for People with Disabilities (PWDs) in your recruitment efforts and hiring practices can feel daunting, much like climbing a mountain. But with education, preparation, tools, and the right guides, you can learn the ways to commit to the climb with the help of DVR’s Business Relations Unit (BRU).
This virtual 3-part workshop series will help your company:
- Build knowledge and understanding of the current challenges when implementing initiatives around the hiring of People with Disabilities;
- Gain a better understanding of the ADA and create positive interactions around Reasonable Accommodations in the workplace;
- Discover best practices for creating successful hiring strategies for PWDs through the use of Skills-based hiring practices, Universal Design, and other trends.
Interested in joining this cohort of committed Employers across the State, who are focused on empowering their workplaces through equal opportunities? Register now and let's get to work!
Why Make a Commitment?
Individuals with disabilities are an untapped labor pool, with only 34.4% of adults currently employed compared to an estimated 75% of adults without disabilities currently employed (nTIDE, July 2022).
Businesses who actively pursue hiring and retaining people with disabilities financially outperform businesses that do not, with an average of 28% higher revenue and 30% higher profit margins (Disability:IN, 2018).
When people with disabilities are part of your workplace, they help to drive innovation, culture change, and positively contribute to the economic, social and governance (ESGs) impacts businesses, yielding positive returns for both the business and its' customers.