Melwood Neurodiverse Employment Conference Series Marks 75th Anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)

UPPER MARLBORO, MD, October 7, 2020 – To mark the 75^th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), Melwood is hosting the 2020 Neurodiverse Employment Conference, consisting of 16 interactive virtual sessions scheduled weekly from October through December. As one of the nation’s largest nonprofits addressing disability employment and as one of the region’s largest employers of people with disabilities, Melwood is committed to creating a more inclusive world by helping employers embrace neurodiversity – the variation in how we learn and process information.

While representing a large segment of the population – the CDC estimates that 1 in 4 Americans is living with a disability and that nearly 11% of Americans are affected by a cognitive or neurodevelopmental disability – people with disabilities are disproportionately affected by unemployment and underemployment.

“COVID-19 has awakened many of us to the challenges of unemployment from economic struggle to loss of identity. National Disability Employment Awareness Month gives us a chance to highlight the additional burdens faced by people with disabilities not only in this current climate but in general. With this event, we aim to break down barriers and build the infrastructure of inclusion,” said Melwood’s Interim President and CEO, Larysa Kautz.

The 16 free virtual sessions bring together prominent business leaders, policymakers, researchers, assistive technology companies and disability advocates to share best practices to strengthen our efforts to train, hire and retain people with disabilities, including veterans. All sessions are free and open to the public. For more information or to register go to: Registration Link.

About Melwood

Melwood is one of the largest nonprofit employers of people of differing abilities in the country, employing more than 1,600 workers – nearly 1,000 of whom are people of differing abilities. Melwood offers job placement, job training, life skills for independence, and support services to more than 2,500 people each year in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Melwood also has an inclusive summer camp program for children and provides employment and support services to veterans and active duty military members who have experienced service-related trauma or injury. For more information, visit www.Melwood.org.