In recognition of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, the second week of March is dedicated to employment and the co-worker relationship in a variety of employment settings. See Me As Your Co-Worker is a call to action for employers and co-workers without I/DD to recognize the valuable contribution people with I/DD can and do make across many different industries. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) advocates for states to adopt a State as Model Employer (SAME) policies that promote and lead the way for increasing inclusive employment. The NCSL says part of the rationale behind SAME policies includes, among other things, “as states engage in policy efforts to increase disability inclusion and access in state agencies and encourage and recruit people with disabilities into state employment, SAME policies have the added benefit of demonstrating to private sector employers the viability and effectiveness of employing people with disabilities”.

California is one of the states with a mandated SAME policy as well as Employment First policies aimed at increasing the hiring of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in state government. To learn more about what different states are doing visit:

https://nacdd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/DD-Awareness-Month-Resource-Guide-2018.pdf