Disability Employment Awareness Month Poster
Each October, Texas celebrates DEAM with job fairs, public awareness events, and a statewide #HireAbility campaign to promote employment opportunities for Texans with disabilities. As part of the public awareness campaign, GCPD partners with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to distribute free DEAM posters to thousands of Texas employers and businesses to educate them on the talents and abilities of workers with disabilities, while sharing valuable employer resources through the HireAbility website.
The posters are intended to spark conversations on the employment of people with disabilities in businesses and organizations across the Lone Star State. The posters feature original work from an outstanding Texas artist, along with their picture and personal statement, and the national DEAM theme. This year's theme is "Advancing Access and Equity". Read below for more information on how to enter!
2022 DEAM Poster
Raising the Bar by Eva M. Storey
As a small business owner with a rare disability that others may not always physically see, it is both a challenge and a blessing to empower others with similar disabilities who are among the workforce. My day-to-day operations involve servicing communication access and advocacy for those who have a language barrier, predominately the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. People with disabilities must maneuver around many hurdles in society’s working system to balance the scales of diversity. Collaboration between companies and organizations to promote ‘inclusion for al’ is vital and fulfilling to our economy.
‘Raising The Bar’ illustrates an expression of hardworking individuals in the disability community who are proud to be part of the workforce. Members of the disability community who have an auditory disability – Deaf or Hard of Hearing – have always inspired me. The show of hands in ‘Raising The Bar’ reflects the voices of these individuals, whether in various forms of Sign Language or other foreign languages.
Celebrate Excellence. In recognition of the important role people with disabilities play in a diverse and inclusive American workforce, the theme for National Disability Employment Awareness Month is “Disability: Part of the Equity Equation.” Observed annually in October, NDEAM celebrates the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities past and present and showcases supportive, inclusive employment policies and practices.
If you would like a poster, please contact us and provide a U.S.P.S. mailing address. Posters are available free of charge while supplies last.
How to Apply
Original 2D art (including but not limited to paintings or drawings), and 3D art (including but not limited to sculpture or pottery) in all media are eligible. The Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities will have the final authority as to what constitutes an acceptable entry. GCPD is committed to providing opportunities to as many Texas artists as possible; as such, a previous NDEAM Poster Art winner will not be eligible for competition until five years have passed since their last win. Simply download the entry form for more information on eligibility and how to apply!
Submissions are open for Summer 2023. Deadline is August 24, 2023.
- Poster Competition Flyer in PDF Format
- Poster Submission Guidelines in Word Format
- Entry Form in Word Format
As part of our state’s recognition of Texas Disability Employment Awareness Month, the GCPD promotes the Texas HireAbility Campaign. Texas HireAbility is a partnership between the Texas Workforce Commission, the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities and the statewide Workforce Solutions network. HireAbility hopes to raise awareness about the benefits of hiring people with disabilities and highlight the contributions of people with disabilities in the workforce. Each poster includes the twitter hashtag (#TXHireAbility). Resources to promote disability employment awareness activities can be found at www.twc.texas.gov/texashireability.
What Can YOU Do to Advance the Employment of People with Disabilities?
In support of the What Can YOU Do? outreach effort, the Campaign for Disability Employment is pleased to present the following video tools. Help us spread the word about the value and talent that people with disabilities bring to the workplace by sharing these videos and playing the Campaign for Disability Employment’s “I Can” public service announcement (PSA).