October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), a time to recognize and celebrate the talent and value that people with disabilities bring to workplaces and everyday life across Western New York and beyond.
At Western New York Independent Living Inc. (WNYIL), our mission has always been rooted in creating opportunities where people with disabilities can live, work, and contribute fully within their communities. This year’s national theme, “Celebrating Value and Talent,” captures what we at WNYIL do every day: empowering skilled individuals to take control of their lives, break barriers, build teams, and in turn help strengthen local economies.
However, despite progress, employment gaps remain. Many talented people are still met with inaccessible systems or limited opportunities for advancement. WNYIL works to change that through advocacy and a range of support programs.
Our Job Club program helps participants strengthen their job-readiness skills, practice interviewing, and connect directly with employers across the region. Meanwhile, the Subminimum Wage to Competitive Integrated Employment (SWTCIE) program focuses on reducing the number of individuals working for subminimum wages and increasing opportunities for competitive, integrated employment. Through SWTCIE, our Customized Employment Specialists work closely with individuals with developmental disabilities to identify their goals and build career paths that align with their strengths.
WNYIL also offers individualized employment and education advocacy, supporting parents as they advocate for their children’s education, as well as youth and adults pursuing vocational goals and career transitions. These services are strengthened through peer employment support, ensuring individuals are guided by those with lived experience who understand both the challenges and possibilities of living and working with a disability.
This month—and every month—we invite employers and community leaders to join us in building workplaces that reflect the diversity and strength of Western New York’s communities, and to support the transition of individuals with disabilities into fully inclusive, sustainable careers.
Learn more about WNYIL’s employment services at www.wnyil.org.
Listen to our Podcast interview on employment services on WNYIL’s YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/bmJPgIUVRqA?si=WeQVGbr5K5FIqA7x