GOLDSBORO, N.C. — The Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Services for the Blind, announced it is joining efforts to recognize the professional achievements and contributions of workers with disabilities during National Disability Employment Awareness Month this October.
Under the 2025 theme “Celebrating Value and Talent,” the annual observance highlights the importance of equal employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities and their vital role in North Carolina’s workforce.
“Work isn’t only about earning a paycheck and putting in hours—the right job gives us purpose, dignity, and freedom,” officials from NC Services for the Blind stated in a public service announcement. “People with disabilities should have the same opportunity as everyone else to put their talent, skills, creativity, and leadership to work.”
National Disability Employment Awareness Month, led by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, has grown into a nationwide grassroots movement with observances held across the country each October. The initiative aims to recognize both the historical and current professional achievements of workers with disabilities.
The Division of Services for the Blind is encouraging organizations of all sizes and across all industries to participate in NDEAM activities not only during October but throughout the year. The Wayne County Chamber of Commerce’s participation reflects a growing commitment among local business leaders to workplace diversity and inclusion.
The Chamber invites its member businesses and organizations throughout Wayne County to join in celebrating the many and varied contributions of workers with disabilities, emphasizing that recognizing these contributions should be an ongoing commitment to creating inclusive workplaces.
National Disability Employment Awareness Month has been observed each October since 1945, when Congress enacted a resolution declaring the first week of October “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.
