IWD's celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) culminated with a statewide proclamation signing from Governor Reynolds. The proclamation emphasized Iowa’s commitment to investing in the talents of Iowans with disabilities, strengthening collaboration across the workforce system, and expanding opportunities for competitive, integrated employment. It also highlighted the state’s progress in modernizing VR services, advancing Employment First principles, and building strong partnerships that support sustainable, meaningful careers.
Read the proclamation below. For more information about VR services and celebrating NDEAM, visit workforce.iowa.gov/ndeam.
2026 Statewide Proclamation: National Disability Employment Awareness Month in Iowa
WHEREAS, Iowa’s future will be defined by the investment in its people, including the many talented Iowans who live with a disability and who, with the right supports, are fully capable of achieving successful and sustainable careers; and
WHEREAS, The importance of improved collaboration in our workforce system – including with state agencies and other key service providers – directly impacts the ability for Iowans with disabilities to obtain competitive, integrated employment, underscoring that strong systems create strong pathways; and
WHEREAS, Iowa in recent years has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting this population and fully leveraging their contributions, and continues to build networks and partner with more employers who are eager not only to hire but also to unlock the full talents of Iowans with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, The state’s vocational rehabilitation program continues to expand its tools, modernize case management, and enhance staff training to deliver on Iowa’s commitment to creating sustained employment across our workforce, advancing a goal that aligns with America’s talent strategy for building a complete workforce for the Golden Age.
WHEREAS, Iowa is proud to have made a commitment to the Employment 1st framework that says all individuals with disabilities are capable of full participation in the very same employment opportunities available to any Iowan. This approach ensures that the primary goal within all publicly funded systems is attaining integrated employment, rather than remaining in sheltered settings. These efforts are made possible through the continued collaboration of the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Division of Iowa Workforce Development, the Iowa Department of the Blind, and the Iowa Department of Education and Health and Human Services; and
WHEREAS, Our state remains dedicated to fostering an environment where every Iowan, regardless of their disability or current barrier, has the opportunity to freely chart their own course in the workforce and achieve success in a sustainable career, with the backing and full support of the programs and people that make such independence possible;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Kim Reynolds, Governor of the State of Iowa, do hereby proclaim October 2026, as
National Disability Employment Awareness Month in the State of Iowa.