October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Every October, we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) to honor the amazing individuals with disabilities who have entered the workforce. Additionally, we celebrate the contributions individuals with disabilities make in the workplace as well as the amazing employers in our community who have made it a priority to incorporate inclusive employment policies. The Office of Disability Employment Policy chose to make the theme of this year’s NDEAM “Advancing Access and Equity” to shed light on the importance of continuing to increase inclusive practices in all workplaces. To learn more about NDEAM and this year’s theme, please click here.

At New Hope, our Vocational Services team works hard to help individuals in central Indiana obtain meaningful, long-term employment in our community.  Our vocational services team is comprised of Team Leader Patrick Mitchell and Supported Employment Consultants Miguel Garcia and Elizabeth Ford. They are expanding their team this week and adding another Employment Consultant – Piper.  In the past year, the team has worked with 85 individuals at different steps in their employment journeys through strengths assessments, skill development, job seeking, job placement and follow-along services. Additionally, New Hope has gained several new employment partners in the past year including the Indianapolis Zoo, the Indiana Historical Society, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Nishida Services and Universal Cleaners. Special thanks to Bokay Florists for providing interview practice opportunities.