National Disability Employment Awareness Month (Oct.)

October marks National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which honors workers with disabilities and their contributions to our workplaces and economy. This year’s theme, “Access to Good Jobs for All,” highlights the need to ensure that people living with disabilities are supported in access to meaningful employment. If you work at WHOI and have a short- or long-term disability, you can request accommodations to help you do your job, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Did you know that the WHOI Committee for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (CDEI) has a working group focused on disability education and advocacy? The Disability Education and Advocacy Group was formed in the fall of 2024 to increase education and awareness about equity and inclusion for people with disabilities. The group aims to educate themselves and the WHOI community about unintentional biases and exclusionary behavior against people with disabilities. Ultimately, we strive to develop WHOI as a comfortable working environment for all by advocating for the removal of existing barriers to inclusion and the implementation of equitable policies and procedures. For additional information or to join the working group, please contact Amy Bower or Grace Simpkins.