Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)

What a commemorative month October has been, filled with many accomplishments to honor, acknowledge, and celebrate the contributions of unique individuals all over. One special observance this month, is that of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). NDEAM is observed to recognize and highlight the contributions of men and women with disabilities.

As NDEAM comes to a close, I am proud of the many ways our professionals came together this month to engage in meaningful dialogue. We recognized Mental Health Day earlier this month, to support our colleagues in creating resources to help raise awareness and promote mental health.?Additionally, we hosted an interactive Q&A panel hosted by our Abilities In Motion (AIM) Business Resource Group (BRG). This Q&A focused on the stories of our professionals with disabilities, those caring for family members with apparent or non-apparent disabilities, and their individual career journeys.

I was deeply moved by their courage and willingness to share their experiences and provide us with important insight and perspectives into the future of work, inclusive and accommodating of individuals with disabilities.

Many thanks to Paul Knopp , CEO and Chairman, Kayla Kelly , Audit Senior Manager, Yen Hoang , Tax Associate, Marni Puente , Senior Director National Marketing and Jill Houghton , CEO & President of Disability:IN for being part of this conversation.?

It is KPMG’s honor to attract and retain top talent with disabilities or those who are caregivers for someone with a disability. Our Accelerate 2025 efforts exists to advance DEI and to understand the lived and shared experiences that our underrepresented talent and families have in navigating the workplace, including individuals with disabilities.

There are many variations of disabilities with unmet needs in the workplace and an often-underserved disability is that of neurological forms such as ADHD, dyslexia, autism and more. It’s estimated that 80-85% of adults with autism are either unemployed or underemployed.

The firm's Neurodiversity at KPMG (N@W) initiative is part of our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion for all individuals, and the program is aligned with our Accelerate 2025 program.

My colleagues Sean Hoffman and Sara Wylie are both parents to neurodiverse children and apart of the team that has worked to develop our neurodiversity program. As caregivers, they know the importance of an initiative like N@W and the impact it can have on the neurodiverse community.

Watch Sean and Sara’s videos to learn more about the program and their personal stories here.?

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