The U.S. Department of Labor has selected “Celebrating Value and Talent” as the theme for the 80th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, set to take place in October.
The annual event, which highlights the workplace contributions of people with disabilities, will also spotlight inclusive employment practices that benefit both workers and employers. This year’s theme aligns with upcoming celebrations of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026 by acknowledging the role of people with disabilities in the country’s past and present workforce.
“Celebrating America means celebrating the value and talent that all Americans — including people with disabilities — add to our nation’s workplaces and communities,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer in a statement.
First observed in 1945 as a week to recognize workers with physical disabilities, the initiative was expanded and officially named National Disability Employment Awareness Month by Congress in 1988. In 2001, the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) was established and began overseeing the annual commemoration, including the development of its yearly theme.
ODEP said materials to support the 2025 observance, including a promotional poster, will be released this summer.
