October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month

OKLAHOMA CITY — It’s always a celebration when an individual goes to work. It’s no different for a person with disabilities. The difference lies in the barriers that often hinder a person with disabilities from getting a job.

In 2023, 1,181 Oklahomans with disabilities went to work thanks to the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services’ Vocational Rehabilitation and the Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired employment programs.

DRS is joining the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy in recognizing National Disability Employment Awareness Month. NDEAM is an annual awareness campaign that takes place each October.

This year's theme is Access to Good Jobs for All.

“Employed Oklahomans with disabilities are more independent, taxpaying citizens, eliminating the need for government disability benefits,” DRS Executive Director Melinda Fruendt said. “Our employment programs create dependable, job-ready clients with disabilities who can to step up and fill labor gaps in Oklahoma.”

DRS encourages anyone facing barriers to employment due to a disability to apply for services by calling 800-487-4042 to reach a local office, visiting www.okdrs.gov for more information or filling out a self-referral online.

DRS Services include career counseling, diagnosis and treatment of physical and mental disabilities, education and training, assistive technology and job placement – all intended to improve future employment outcomes.

To qualify for services, clients must have a physical or mental disability that is a substantial barrier to employment. They must be able to benefit from vocational rehabilitation services in ways that lead to finding or maintaining employment.

The purpose of National Disability Employment Awareness Month is to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities.

On average, DRS clients who became employed earned $28,414 in annual wages and paid $4,262 in annual taxes in 2023. VR and SBVI were also serving more than 13,000 Oklahomans with disabilities on their way to employment.

DRS also helps Oklahoma employers hire and train qualified workers through VR and SBVI offices and the agency’s Business Services Program. Every county in the state is served by these programs.

DRS staff work with employers to set up on-the-job training experiences for clients and may cover a portion of their salaries for a specified time. The only requirement is that the business must have a vacant position that can be filled by the trained individual upon completion of the experience.

In addition, federal Work Opportunity Tax Credits provide financial incentives that reduce tax liabilities for businesses employing people with disabilities.

“I always like to say, never underestimate a person with a disability,” Fruendt said. “They can and often are the best employee a business can have.”

For more information about employment programs offered by DRS, visit www.okdrs.gov or phone 800-845-8476.

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