Disability month focuses on an inclusive workforce

  • Published
  • By Edward Simonds
  • Hanscom National Disability Employment Awareness Month committee
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Today, more people with disabilities work for the federal government than at any time in the past 20 years, and we are striving to make it easier to get and keep those jobs by improving compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

All Americans are entitled to an accessible workplace, a level playing field and the same privileges, pursuits and opportunities as any of their family, friends and neighbors. In October, we rededicated ourselves to bringing down barriers and raising up aspirations for all our people, regardless of disability, so we may share in a brighter future together.

The National Disability Employment Awareness committee held a lunch and learn at the Minuteman Commons Oct. 30 at 11:30 a.m. The guest speakers were made up of the Hanscom and local community. The members of this year's committee worked extremely hard, including Kim Selway, Foreign Military Sales Case Support Section chief and Maura Mazzocca, a member of the Burlington Disabled Access Commission, to make this year's observance a success.

The theme for National Disability Employment Awareness Month was "A Strong Workforce is an Inclusive Workforce: What Can You Do?" It is a time for our community at Hanscom to create an inclusive and supportive environment and to celebrate people with varying needs not only in October, but throughout the year.