Diversity Spotlight: Celebrating value and talent during National Disability Employment Awareness Month
The 2026 National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) theme, "Celebrating Value and Talent," carries forward last year's spirit as the nation marks its 250th birthday, highlighting the role people with disabilities have played in shaping workplaces, communities, and the economy. It reminds us that a strong workforce is one where everyone has a fair path to contribute, and that talent shows up in every kind of body and mind.
This October, RTD proudly joins the nation in recognizing NDEAM. As both a public transit provider and an employer, RTD is committed to a workplace where employees with disabilities can bring their full talents to work, and to a transit system that gets every customer where they need to go, including to and from that work.
Why we observe
The observance traces back to 1945, when Congress set aside a national week to recognize workers with physical disabilities. In 1988, the observance grew into a full month and broadened to include visible and invisible disabilities. Each year, the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy leads the observance and selects its theme.
The need for this focus remains real. Nationally, only 38.3% of working-age people with disabilities were employed in July 2026, compared with 75% of people without disabilities, according to “National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2026: Theme, Facts, and Resources” (Dilworth and Dilworth). The gap is wider still for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. NDEAM exists to close that gap, one workplace at a time, by asking employers to examine their practices: how jobs are advertised, how candidates are interviewed, how people are welcomed on Day One, and whether the workplace supports each employee's long-term success.
A legacy rooted in access
RTD's story is part of the larger history of disability and employment in America. Access to transportation and access to a livelihood have always been connected; without a reliable way to get to work, even the most qualified candidate cannot show up for the job. Public transit is often the great equalizer for many Americans.
RTD's story is part of the history of disability and employment. In 1978, the Gang of 19 protested inaccessible RTD buses in Denver, showing that reliable transportation connects people to jobs, education, and independence. Their advocacy helped lead to the Americans with Disabilities Act, which made equal employment opportunity a civil right. The ADA's employment provisions prohibit discrimination in hiring, promotion, and pay, and they require employers to provide reasonable accommodations so qualified employees with disabilities can do their jobs. RTD honors that legacy today by ensuring access to transit and careers for all.
Ways to celebrate NDEAM
RTD encourages community members to take part in October activities across the region. Resources and events include:
U.S. Department of Labor’s “What Can YOU Do?” Campaign
Led by the Office of Disability Employment Policy, this year-round hub offers a downloadable NDEAM poster, social media content, and materials on how to observe and honor the contributions of employees with disabilities. Visit www.whatcanyoudocampaign.gov throughout October to find fresh ways to make your team and RTD a more inclusive workplace.
Colorado NDEAM Celebration 2026
More people with disabilities are joining the labor force than ever before – and more businesses are building intentional plans to hire and keep the talent they need. Join Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera, along with members from the State Rehabilitation Council, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), and more, at 10 a.m., Oct. 21, to celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Click here to RSVP.
Pathways to Progress 2026
Workforce Colorado Pikes Peak and the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation have hosted free virtual workshops in honor of NDEAM. Please join them for this year’s sessions. Click here to learn more and register.
Looking ahead
NDEAM celebrates progress, and challenges us to ask: What comes next? People with disabilities have shaped what accessibility means in our community, and their value and talent help refocus on what opportunity looks like. Adding people with disabilities to the workplace strengthens teams and brings historically overlooked perspectives.
RTD remains committed to strengthening its practices and partnering with the disability community. Together, we can continue to build a workplace and a transit system where everyone's contributions are recognized and cherished.