October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month

St. Petersburg, FL, October 22, 2011 --(PR.com)-- When Kenneth Salajag was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation; he was implanted with a pacemaker. Unable to work, he lost his paycheck and spiraled into depression. After four years of being unemployed, a career counselor at Employment Options Inc. gave him the support, mentoring and job leads he needed to get back into the workforce. “The ability to excel at my job has given me back my confidence,” says Salajag.

There are hundreds of thousands of Americans like Salajag who have the desire to work but need a different sort of job than they’ve done in the past. Certified Employment Networks like Employment Options Inc. connect workers with disabilities with new employment opportunities, both at-home and in traditional workplace settings.

Although helping Americans with disabilities find work is a year-round focus, October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This is a national campaign that raises awareness about disability employment issues and validates the contributions of workers with disabilities.

NDEAM's roots go back to 1945, when Congress enacted a law declaring the first week in October "National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week." In 1962, the word "physically" was removed, acknowledging the contributions of people with all forms of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to "National Disability Employment Awareness Month."

The theme for NDEAM 2011 is "Profit by Investing in Workers with Disabilities," which promotes the valuable contributions people with disabilities make to America's workplaces and economy. According to Paula Vieillet, CEO of Employment Options Inc. and author of Employment Options: The Ultimate Resource for Job Seekers with Disabilities and other Challenges, "I have employers calling me wanting to interview our clients because of our reputation for matching their job descriptions with people who have the skills and abilities to fulfill them.”

Even in the midst of a struggling economy and elevated unemployment, there are jobs available for disabled workers. "We have so many openings for people on SSDI or non-retirement SSI that we are actively seeking more qualified applicants,” says Vieillet. “Those who have at-home Internet access, can type more than 30 words a minute, are between the ages of 18-63, and like working with people can pre-qualify now."

About Employment Options
Employment Options is a Certified Social Security Administration (SSA) Employment Network for the Ticket-To-Work program. They help beneficiaries on disability insurance (SSDI) and supplemental insurance (SSI) get jobs and provide valuable resources, tools, and support for success. A fully virtual company, job placement coordinators are available across the country. For more information, visit www.myemploymentoptions.com or contact Lori Adler at ladler@myemploymentoptions.com.

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