The month of October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Employment for people with developmental disabilities has been a priority of the Council for over a decade. Each year, the Council hosts trainings in October to bring awareness and education to Wyoming businesses about hiring individuals who have a disability. This is an opportunity to introduce employers to a largely untapped workforce, address misconceptions about workplace accommodations, and shift the general attitude about stereotypes and views of people with disabilities.

The Council has collaborated with many agencies in the past nine years to bring information about employing people with disabilities forward, including the Department Workforce Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), the former WYAPSE, the state's chapter of Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE), Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND) and the state’s Department of Education/DRV – Transition Team.

The Council will continue to focus on the importance of employment not just in the month of October, but all year round, through sharing resources, webinar and training opportunities, and outreach to employers and organizations throughout the state through this site.

In 2017, Wyoming ranked #1 nationally for the highest rate of employment for people with disabilities and in 2022 the state ranked 10th in the nation. While these rankings are good, the people with developmental disabilities employed are generally only employed part time so they may only make $12,000.00 - $15,000.00 a year – which is not a living wage. The next step taken is to work towards people with developmental disabilities earning a living wage while being employed full time.

If you are interested in previous employment work done by the Council, click HERE.