On Tuesday, Oct. 3, the Board of Clallam County Commissioners proclaimed the month of October 2017 as Disability Employment Awareness Month in Clallam County and publically recognized employers in Clallam County who employ people with developmental disabilities. Held each October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is a national campaign that raises awareness about disability employment issues and celebrates the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities.

The theme for 2017 is “Inclusion Drives Innovation.” NDEAM’s roots go back to 1945, when Congress enacted a law declaring the first week in October each year “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.” In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to “National Disability Employment Awareness Month.”

Employers recognized were: A-1 Performance Inc., Amazing Changes Hair Studio, Banana Belt Kelly, Clallam Transit, DBA Lefties Baseball, DSHS – Child Protective Services, Feiro Marine Life Center, Forks Coffee Shop, Goodwill – Sequim, Home Depot, JACE Real Estate – Port Angeles, JACE Real Estate – Sequim, Jack In The Box – Port Angeles, Juan de Fuca Cottages, McDonald’s – Port Angeles, Olympic Medical Center, Omega Business Center, Pacific Office Equipment, Quality Inn & Suites, Red Lion Hotel – Port Angeles, Safeway – Sequim, Safeway U. S. Highway 101 – Port Angeles, Safeway Lincoln Street – Port Angeles, Shred Head Shredding, Smuggler’s Landing, Sodexo, St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, The Cedars at Dungeness, Three Rivers Resort, TLC Pet Pros, Walmart – Port Angeles, Washburn’s General Store, YMCA – Port Angeles, YMCA – Sequim.

If you frequent these businesses, please let them know you appreciate their commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.