"In 2025, only 22.8% of people with a disability were employed, compared to 65.2% of people without a disability. That gap isn't about ability — it's about access."
Mike Schugt, CEO, INNclusivity
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), a time to celebrate the contributions of people with disabilities in the workplace and recognize the importance of creating meaningful employment opportunities for everyone.
At Jawonio, we believe employment is about much more than having a job. Work can provide independence, purpose, confidence, connection, and the opportunity to contribute to a community. Every day, through our employment services and the businesses we operate, we see firsthand what happens when people are given the opportunity, support, and encouragement to succeed.
Celebrating Value and Talent
NDEAM gives us an opportunity to recognize something we see every day: people with disabilities have valuable skills, talents, interests, and contributions to bring to the workplace.
Our role is to help individuals identify their strengths, pursue their employment goals, and find opportunities where their abilities can shine.
This work is at the heart of our Community Employment Services (CES) team.
Our CES Team: Connecting Talent With Opportunity
Our CES team works every day to help people with disabilities achieve their employment goals. Our employment professionals take the time to get to know each individual—their interests, strengths, skills, goals, and aspirations—and then work to connect those talents with meaningful opportunities in the community.
Finding the right job is about finding the right fit.
Our CES team supports individuals throughout the employment journey, from exploring career interests and developing workplace skills to identifying potential employers, preparing for interviews, and providing job coaching and ongoing support.
We also work closely with employers. We listen to what businesses need and help identify candidates whose skills and interests can meet those needs. By building relationships with employers, our CES team helps create opportunities that can lead to long-term, successful employment.
And our work doesn’t stop when someone gets hired.
We are there to help support the employee and employer as they navigate the transition into the workplace. Our goal is lasting success—helping individuals become valued members of their workplace teams while helping employers build strong, inclusive workforces.
Our Own Workforce Shows What Is Possible
One of the best examples of our commitment to employment is right here at Jawonio.
Our Jawonio Cleaning Company employs more than 160 individuals with disabilities, providing meaningful work, training, and opportunities for greater independence. Our employees provide professional commercial janitorial services throughout the communities we serve.
Every day, our employees demonstrate their skills, reliability, professionalism, and commitment to doing a job well.
We are proud that people with disabilities are not only receiving employment services through Jawonio—they are also working, earning, contributing, and building careers within our own organization and businesses.
James Fortugno III: A Story of Passion and Possibility
One of the stories we are proud to share is that of James Fortugno III.
James’s story is featured in our Jawonio video, “James Fortugno III: His Passion Delivers.” His experience offers a personal look at what meaningful employment can mean and how an individual’s talents and passions can become an important part of their working life.
James represents something we see repeatedly through our employment services: when people are given an opportunity and the right support, they can accomplish things that may once have seemed out of reach.
His story is not simply about getting a job. It is about recognizing an individual’s interests and abilities and creating an opportunity for those strengths to become part of his professional life.
Watch James’s story on the Jawonio YouTube channel: James Fortugno III: His Passion Delivers.
Creating Opportunities With Employers
We know that inclusive employment takes all of us.
That is why our CES team partners with employers throughout the communities we serve. We work to understand the needs of each business and connect employers with qualified candidates with disabilities.
For employers, partnering with Jawonio can be an opportunity to expand your talent pool and discover employees who are ready to work, learn, contribute, and grow.
We can provide support throughout the employment process, including job development, training, job coaching, and assistance with workplace integration.
Our employer partnerships demonstrate that disability employment is about creating opportunity
while also connecting businesses with talented people.
When an employer opens its doors to an employee with a disability, it creates an opportunity for
that individual to demonstrate what they can do. At the same time, the employer gains a team
member with their own skills, experiences, perspectives, and strengths.
Employment Creates Possibilities
We have the privilege of seeing the impact of employment every day.
We see individuals develop new skills. We see people gain confidence. We see employees build relationships with coworkers and customers. We see people become more independent and take greater control over their futures.
And we see families celebrate accomplishments that once may have seemed impossible.
These moments remind us why our employment programs matter.
A paycheck matters. A career matters. Independence matters. But so does the feeling of being part of a team, being recognized for your contributions, and knowing that your work has value.
This NDEAM, Take the Next Step
As we celebrate NDEAM, we invite employers to take a closer look at the talent that exists within the disability community.
Are you an employer looking to expand your workforce? Consider partnering with Jawonio.
Our CES team is ready to help you identify opportunities within your organization, connect with qualified candidates, and provide the support that can help create successful employment relationships.
You don’t have to figure it out alone. We can help you take the next step toward building a more inclusive workforce.
Together, we can create workplaces where people with disabilities are recognized for their skills, talents, dedication, and contributions.
Our Commitment Goes Beyond October
While October gives us a special opportunity to talk about disability employment, our commitment does not end when NDEAM ends.
We will continue working with individuals to pursue their employment goals. We will continue partnering with businesses that recognize the value of an inclusive workforce. And we will continue sharing the stories of people who demonstrate every day that disability does not define a person’s potential.
Our work is grounded in a simple belief:
Everyone deserves the opportunity to discover their talents, pursue meaningful work, and
contribute to their community.
This NDEAM, we celebrate the people who make that possible—our employees, the individuals
we support, our employer partners, our families, our CES team, our staff, and most importantly,
the people with disabilities whose talent and determination inspire us every day.
At Jawonio, we are proud to celebrate value, talent, opportunity, and inclusion—not just in
October, but all year long.
Interested in Hiring Talent Through Jawonio?
Our Community Employment Services team is ready to partner with employers who want to expand their workforce and create meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Lana Rheubottom
Director of Community Employment Services
845.708.2000 x2311
lana.rheubottom@jawonio.org
Let’s work together to create opportunities, recognize talent, and build more inclusive
workplaces.
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