National Disability Employment Awareness Month Luncheon to Focus on Disabled Veterans
Faculty and staff are invited to attend the 9th annual National Disability Employment Awareness Month luncheon on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at noon in the Africa room.
Expect. Employ. Empower., this year’s topic, will focus on disabled veterans and how to aid the struggles they face in overcoming physical and emotional challenges in order to build successful lives.
Donald Accamando, military program director, will serve as the keynote speaker. In addition, senior computer systems technology student Robert Kaminski, who is a disabled veteran, will discuss his road to recovery and the obstacles he overcame not only in healing from his physical wounds, but in earning his college degree.
Accamando said that there is a substantial challenge to many in recognizing that not all wounds are visible. A host of significant unseen disabilities in soldiers returning from service, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and traumatic brain injuries, can create unnecessary difficulty in obtaining and keeping employment.
“Duquesne is an enclave of healing, and we are very fortunate to have such a supportive atmosphere for our students, faculty and staff,” Accamando said. “But not everyone is so fortunate. It is imperative that we challenge all employers in ensuring that their employees have a workplace environment in which they can feel healthy and safe.”
Kaminski said that creating such an atmosphere is to build a collaboration of awareness between the employer and fellow employees or peers. “When you build awareness, it helps the individual concentrate on work tasks and not disability concerns,” said Kaminski.
Sponsored by the President’s Advisory Council on Diversity and the Division of Mission and Identity, the National Disability Employment Awareness Month luncheon is designed to raise awareness among the University community about disabilities. It is held in conjunction with National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
The luncheon is free, but employees are asked to RSVP by Friday, Oct. 17. For more information, contact the Division of Mission and Identity at 412.396.5097.