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R 111427Z OCT 23 MID600053388742U 
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MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/OCT// 
 
SUBJ/ DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY 2023 NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS 
MONTH// 
 
RMKS/1.  This October, please join me in observing National Disability 
Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and recognize the 50th anniversary of the 
passage of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which is the first federal 
legislation that addresses access and equity for people with 
disabilities.  Throughout its history, the Rehabilitation Act has been vital 
to improving employment opportunities for workers with disabilities and 
inspires this year's NDEAM theme, "Advancing Access and Equity:  Then, Now 
and Next". 
 
2.  The Department of the Navy (DON) is committed to being a model employer 
of individuals with disabilities (IWD), one where we recruit, hire, retain, 
and advance IWD throughout all levels.  This commitment is demonstrated 
through the DON IWD Champions Council, which is a collection of dedicated 
Senior Executives and their Equal Employment Opportunity advisors from each 
command that have a shared goal of eliminating barriers to employment and to 
access for IWD.  In support of these goals, the Council is focused on 
increasing hiring and recruitment of IWD, as well as enhancing accessibility 
of information technology and facilities.  These lines of effort will promote 
greater inclusion of IWD in all aspects of employment.  I wholeheartedly 
support their efforts! 
 
3.  The IWD Champions Council is a top-down approach to advancing access and 
equity for IWD, but Sailors, Marines, and civilians at all levels can make an 
impact.  Some examples include performing accessibility checks on electronic 
documents, ensuring emergency plans are in place for IWD, and raising 
physical accessibility issues for resolution.  Hiring managers can also make 
a significant impact to increasing employment opportunities by working with 
their human resources advisors to non-competitively appoint qualified IWD 
through the Schedule A(u) hiring authority, and leveraging the Workforce 
Recruitment Program (WRP), an excellent recruitment source for college 
students and recent graduates with disabilities. 
 
4.  NDEAM is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions that IWD have made 
to the DON.  I challenge you to learn more about your organization's 
disability program, and programs like WRP that provide employment 
opportunities for people with disabilities.  For more information regarding 
the 2023 NDEAM, please visit the Department of Labor website at  
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/initiatives/ndeam. 
 
5.  Released by the Honorable Carlos Del Toro Secretary of the Navy.// 
 
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