Governor Hochul Issues Proclamation Declaring October Disability Employment Awareness Month

Governor Kathy Hochul today issued a proclamation declaring October as Disability Employment Awareness Month. New York State has a long-standing commitment to supporting inclusive workplaces and has implemented innovative solutions to ensure disabled workers have better access to financial, health, and employment systems. These initiatives have empowered disabled workers to seek financial independence through employment, in turn decreasing unemployment and poverty in the disabled community.

"New York State is committed to ensuring its disabled workers have equal opportunities and are supported in the workplace and beyond," Governor Hochul said. "We are committed to making sure those with disabilities are never overlooked, and that they have fair and quality employment options in this state. Let's celebrate our disabled workers this month and all that they contribute and do every day."

Throughout the pandemic, New York State has continued its work to support disabled workers, including those impacted by COVID-19 and navigating the long-term effects of the virus.

New York has also worked to support the disabled community through the Employment First Policy, which works toward decreasing poverty and increasing employment for the disabled community by registering businesses to have formal policies to include disabled people.

Additionally, Governor Hochul recently announced affordable supportive housing projects in cities such as Brooklyn and Buffalo. These housing developments include supportive services for those with physical and mental disabilities, allowing them to have an affordable place to live and greater accessibility to the disability services they need.

Proclamation

Whereas, New York State joins with the entire nation each October to celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month, reaffirming our statewide commitment to supporting environments and workplace policies that recognize the input, the value, and the skills of all New Yorkers with any disability; and

Whereas, our state also seeks to provide innovations in financial and health care systems, and collaborates with many partners whose common goals are to increase personal and financial independence for all members of the community in order that they may live and thrive to their full potential; and

Whereas, New York State's government agencies that serve individuals with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities, and individuals with mental health disabilities, promote community living by developing implementation plans that will foster greater independence for individuals with disabilities and the creation of more employment options; and

Whereas, New York State recognizes the importance of ensuring that people with all types of disabilities have full access to employment opportunities and that the State will not tolerate any form of discrimination based on disability and recognizes rights for the community as an essential civil rights issue; and

Whereas, New York State's government, community agencies, and advocacy organizations continuously strive to improve coordination across vocational rehabilitation and employment programs to increase employment, career advancement, and entrepreneurship opportunities for individuals with disabilities; and

Whereas, the Employment First Policy was established to work with government, community agencies, and advocacy organizations to increase the employment rate of New Yorkers with disabilities receiving services by five percent; decrease the poverty rate of New Yorkers with disabilities receiving services by five percent; and register 100 businesses as having formal policies to include people with disabilities in the workforce development strategies by hiring qualified workers, and through the development of inclusive workforce environments; and

Whereas, entrepreneurs and professionals in various fields - including health, education, vocational rehabilitation, independent living, transportation, and rehabilitation engineering - are working with individuals ·with disabilities and their families, community leaders, service providers, employers, and organized labor to expand services and support programs that empower people with disabilities to secure employment in their field of interest, including self-employment; and

Whereas, is an honor to join the entire nation in commemorating the contributions of everyone in the community during this this month­ long observance and embrace its theme - "America's Recovery: Powered by Inclusion" - which reflects the importance of ensuring that people with disabilities have full access to employment and community involvement during the national recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic;

Now, Therefore, I, Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New York, do hereby proclaim October 2021 as

DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH in the Empire State.

Given under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State at the Capitol in the City of Albany this eighth day of October in the year two thousand twenty-one.

Kathy Hochul, Governor

Karen Persichilli Keogh, Secretary to the Governor