Since the 1970s, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) has taken place every October. NDEAM reinforces the message across the U.S. that people with disabilities provide invaluable roles and perspectives to our diverse American workforce.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that one in four adults (at least 60 million) in the U.S. live with a disability. This statistic is based on what is reported, however. So, it’s possible that the number is higher than what is stated.

Accessibility benefits everyone

Whether or not you have a disability, accessibility benefits everyone. For instance, do you use a keyboard or talk-to-text? Well, both were originally designed for individuals with disabilities. These are just a few of many everyday items that were originally designed for people with disabilities – but they’re often used by both people with and without disabilities.

So, next time you use an automated door, a curb cut, or an electric toothbrush – remember that you’re benefiting from accessibility, and that’s a good thing! It’s a “nice to have” for some, but a necessity for people with disabilities.

Everyone will experience a short term or long-term disability at some point in their life. Therefore, let’s make a genuine effort to make accessibility a common practice – not an afterthought.