October Is National Disability Employment Awareness Month

October 1, 2026

Gov. Janet T. Mills has proclaimed October 2026 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month(NDEAM).

Maine is an Employment First state, affirming employment as the first and preferred option for people with disabilities who receive services from state agencies. The governor's proclamation calls on employers, schools, higher education institutions and community organizations to promote access to good, in-demand jobs and career pathways, including registered apprenticeship.

Get involved this October!

This year marks the 81st anniversary of NDEAM, and organizations across Maine and nationally are offering events, trainings and other activities throughout the month. Whether you're an employer interested in inclusive hiring, a jobseeker exploring career opportunities, a workforce professional, a student, a family member or a community partner, there are ways to participate.

We encourage you to browse the events and activities below.

Thank you for helping celebrate the contributions of people with disabilities and promote access to meaningful employment and career opportunities across Maine.

To help promote awareness, printable MDOL NDEAM posters are also downloadable here. For more information about employment services for people with disabilities, visit the Maine Department of Labor's Bureau of Rehabilitation Services.

October NDEAM-related events and activities

For employers and workforce development professionals

- October: Every Wednesday this month, Global Best Buddies celebrates NDEAM during its #WorkplaceWednesday series will share video stories of employees, employers, and partnerships showing what inclusive employment looks like in action.

- Oct. 6: Part of the 2026 Latinos with Disabilities Community Series, Workplace Inclusion & Economic Opportunities for People with Disabilities webinar is hosted by United Cerebral Palsy and sponsored by ANCOR Foundation and Waymo. During this panel discussion from 3 to 4 p.m., disability advocates and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) experts will explore employment rights, workplace inclusion, and reasonable accommodations.

- Oct. 13: This monthly online Maine Apprenticeship Information Session at 11 a.m. provides a brief overview of the Maine Apprenticeship Program and how it connects employers and individuals to earn-while-you-learn career pathways.

- Oct. 20: Navigating Performance Discussions and the Accommodation Process Effectively online training is offered through the Job Accommodation Network from 2 to 3 p.m.

- Oct. 27: Maine Working Together's Monthly Meaningful Day and Employment Training Series will focus on "Putting Employment First," including the role of direct support staff, supervisors and managers in helping people learn about and explore employment. The free session is held online from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. and does not require registration.

- Oct. 28: The National Association of Workforce Development Professionals; October Power Hour from 1 to 2 p.m. supports this year's NDEAM theme Celebrating Value and Talent by exploring disability awareness, local and national resources, and key disability employment policies.

- Oct. 29: In support of NDEAM, TransCen is offering this free webinar at 1 p.m. called Making Work Actually Work: Tools to Support Positive Employment Outcomes that introduces proven strategies and actionable tools for supporting individuals with disabilities as they pursue employment.

- Ongoing: Maine's new Job Coach Training course provides the foundational knowledge and practical skills you need to support job seekers with disabilities in long-term employment. This self-paced online course was created and authorized by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. Completing the course is a requirement of becoming a job coach in Maine who can work with people with disabilities for the DOE, DHHS, and DOL.

- Ongoing: Obtain your ACRE Certificate to become an Employment Specialist in Maine by completing the new Maine ACRE Employment Specialist Course.

For jobseekers, employees and workers

- October: Maine Manufacturing Month is a statewide effort to raise awareness about the strength and diversity of Maine's manufacturing sector, and to inspire the next generation of workers. The calendar of events includes social gatherings, tours, workshops and more open to the public. Some events require registration.

- October: MDOL CareerCenters host Hiring Events throughout the state and throughout the year. Online workshops help you develop jobseeker skills to advance your chances with hiring managers. Auxiliary aids and services are available to individuals with disabilities upon request.

- October: Each month, MDOL BRS clients are invited on several business tours across the state. Contact your Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) to participate.

- Oct. 7: Maritime Industry Day takes place from 8 a.m. to noon and is hosted by the Manufacturers Association of Maine at the USS Albacore in Portsmouth, NH. The event will highlight STEM, skilled trades, career opportunities and the submarine and maritime industrial base.

- Oct. 7 and 22: Disability Rights Maine will offer Understanding Your Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Rights online at 1 p.m. on Oct. 7 and at 10 a.m. on Oct. 22 the Rockland CareerCenter. This training is open to people interested in VR services, family members, guardians, case managers, service providers and others interested in disability rights.

- Oct. 13: This monthly online put email here Maine Apprenticeship Information Session at 11 a.m. provides a brief overview of the Maine Apprenticeship Program and how it connects employers and individuals to earn-while-you-learn career pathways.

- Oct. 14: Helen Keller Services will host its 6th Annual NDEAM Event Webinar from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

- Oct. 15: Maine Hire-A-Vet hosts a hiring and veteran resource event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the York County Regional Training Center in Alfred. The event is open to all jobseekers. Auxiliary aids and services are available to individuals with disabilities upon request.

- Oct. 15: MDOL DVR offers monthly virtual orientation to Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services for individuals with disabilities every third Thursday of the month from 9 to 10 a.m. The orientation will be an opportunity to learn about VR services and how VR can support you in obtaining, maintaining and advancing employment. Captioning and ASL will be available. No pre-registration necessary. Join the Zoom here.

For students, youth, families and educators

- Oct. 7: Maine DOL BRS staff members will team up with Maine Parent Federation (MPF) for a webinar at noon focused on Vocational Rehabilitation Services for Transition Age Students (ages 18-24).

- Oct. 7: Disability Rights Maine hosts monthly sessions at noon. Lunch & Learn: Resources to Work with Deaf & Hard of Hearing Students is the October focus.

- Oct. 28: Parents, grandparents, and caregivers to children with disabilities and/or special health care needs who are interested in becoming Family Support Navigators (FSN) to provide peer support to other Maine families, are invited to a (MPF) In-Person Family Support Navigator Training at the Cohen Community Center in Hallowell from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Community awareness events and observances

- October: Blindness Awareness Month will be observed throughout the month.

- Oct. 2: The Iris Network and the Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired will host White Cane Awareness Day from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Congress Square in Portland during the First Friday Art Walk. The event will include information tables, white cane demonstrations, food, music and activities.

- Oct. 6: Are you voting in the Midterm Election but you are unsure if the process will be accessible to you? Maine CITE Webinar: Voting Rights with Disability Rights Maine from 1 to 2 p.m. will answer your questions.

- Oct. 7: The National Federation of the Blind holds its Greater Portland Chapter Monthly Meeting via Zoom from 7 to 8 p.m. All are welcome to attend. Meetings cover chapter business, advocacy updates, and community news for blind and low-vision individuals in Portland and surrounding towns.

- Oct. 8: The Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened (CDHHLD) will hold its quarterly meeting from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Maine Department of Labor, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta. The meeting is open to the public. CDHHLD ensures that Maine citizens who are deaf, hard of hearing or late deafened have equal access to participate in all activities and opportunities of employment, recreation, government, state, and community services.

- Oct. 8: Every October, on the second Thursday,World Sight Day casts a spotlight on the importance of eye care, andwhat it means to have care that is accessible, available and affordable to all.

- Oct. 9: The Iris Network will host Dining in the Dark from 6 to 9 p.m., an immersive blindfolded dinner experience at Bruno's Restaurant and Tavern in Portland.

- Oct. 15: White Cane Awareness Day, also known as Blind Americans Equality Day, activities educate the public about blindness and visual impairments and has recognized the importance of white canes in promoting safety and independence since 1964.

- Oct. 20: The DVR and DBVI will hold a joint State Rehabilitation Council meeting, which is open to the public. Details to be announced.

- Oct. 21: Alpha One's monthly Peer Power Hub is a virtual peer support group from 2 to 3:15 p.m. It is led by peers with lived disability experience, offering a safe space for mutual support, self-advocacy skill-building, and community connection for people with disabilities across Maine. Alpha One is Maine's Independent Living Center, based in Portland.