Proclamation observing National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Published on October 05, 2026

The city council passed a proclamation observing the month of October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Once a weeklong national observance, National Disability Employment Awareness Month commemorates the history of disability employment and raises awareness of creating an accessible workplace inclusive of physical and mental disabilities – visible or not. The City of St. Louis Park invites our community to learn more about disability employment history and explore ways to incorporate accessibility in our everyday lives.

To celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the City of St. Louis Park invites you to:

• Learn about disability and the workplace
  • National Disability Employment Awareness Month | U.S. Department of Labor
  • Introduction to the Americans with Disabilities Act | ADA.gov
  • History of Disability Rights Milestones and Laws | American Bar Association
  • Myths About Employees with Disabilities | Minnesota Council On Disability
• Find ways to increase accessibility in your everyday life
  • Everyday accessibility tips for the workplace | University of Waterloo
  • How to Help Employees With Disabilities Thrive | The Way We Work, a TED series

Proclamation

The proclamation reads:

Whereas, the City of St. Louis Park supports the Minnesota Council on Disability vision of “a barrier-free Minnesota where every person with a disability has full access to all aspects of life”; and

Whereas, the Minnesota State Demographic center notes that about six-hundred thousand  Minnesotans report having a disability, with mobility related disabilities being most common; and

Whereas, the Americans with Disabilities Act defines a disability as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity – this includes those who have a record of disability and those may not self-identify as having one; and

Whereas, living with a disability has complex impacts, where individuals and their families must navigate stigma, legal challenges, benefit systems and advocacy for equal access and accommodations; and

Whereas, individuals with disabilities are highly skilled and valuable contributors to our economy and community,

Now therefore let it be known that the mayor and city council of the City of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, hereby honor October 2026 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month in our community.