Virginia Governor Ralph S. Northam

WHEREAS, according to the 2018 American Community Survey, just 40 percent of working-age Virginians with disabilities are employed, which indicates an underrepresentation of people with disabilities among the gainfully employed; and

WHEREAS, an estimated one in five Virginians will have a disability at some point in their lifetime; and

WHEREAS, Virginians with disabilities, including veterans, have the ability and desire to seek employment and to develop the skills they need to join Virginia’s economy; and

WHEREAS, Executive Order 47, which was signed January 2, 2020, directs the Commonwealth’s Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer to coordinate across Secretariats to advance the employment of individuals with disabilities in state government; and

WHEREAS, under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (2014), the Commonwealth must submit a strategy for an integrated workforce system that is business-driven, aligned with current labor market data and targets workforce credentials and career pathways; and

WHEREAS, in 2020, vocational rehabilitation celebrates 100 years of empowering individuals with disabilities to maximize their employment and work towards economic self-sufficiency and independence; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Labor’s theme for this year’s national observance, “Increasing Access and Opportunity,” marks the 75^th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month; and

WHEREAS, all Virginians should be given the opportunity to participate fully and equally in the social and economic life of the Commonwealth and to engage in remunerative employment to drive Virginia’s economy;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ralph S. Northam, do hereby recognize October 2020 as DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.