History of National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM) was first designated by the United States Congress in October of 1988. It was an extension of the previously acknowledged “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week” which had been observed the first week of October since 1945 (the word “physically” was removed in 1962 to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of people experiencing all types of disability). It was hoped that extending the time frame from one week to one month would increase awareness and employment outcomes for Americans experiencing disability.

DEAM first came to Canada in 2010 when Manitoba became the first province to proclaim October as Disability Employment Awareness Month. Saskatchewan proclaimed DEAM the following year, and British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, and New Brunswick have all secured proclamations in the years that followed..

You can access the CASE Disability Employment Awareness Month Proclamation Kit Here

The information in the 2022 Tool Kit is slightly outdated. Premier Tim Houston has Proclaimed October as Disability Employment Awareness Month