The SPAN Youth Hub

Every October, workplaces across the nation join to celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) . Led by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) , NDEAM recognizes the incredible contributions workers with disabilities bring to America’s economy, culture, and workforce. This year’s official theme, "Celebrating Value and Talent" , carries forward a vital message into 2026, aligning with nationwide celebrations surrounding America’s 250th birthday and ODEP’s 25th anniversary. It serves as a reminder that an inclusive workforce isn't just good practice, it's essential to driving innovation and workplace excellence. The poster is rectangular in shape with a red, gold, or light blue background and an array of red, white and blue graphical fireworks of different sizes. Five of these fireworks frame photos of people with disabilities working in various environments. Below the images, the words “Celebrating Value...

Speaking up in a group can sometimes feel difficult, especially when you're in a classroom, club, workplace, or other setting, where many people are sharing ideas all at once. For youth with disabilities, communication can also look different from person to person. Some youth may speak out loud, while others like to write, chat, use assistive technology (AT), or another way to communicate. No matter how you choose to speak up, your ideas and experiences deserve to be included.

We are excited to share a great opportunity from The Arc@School. The IEP Student Profile from The Arc@School is a free, fillable template that families and students can use to communicate a child's unique strengths, goals, preferences, and support needs directly to their IEP team and teachers.  This printable and fillable resource allows students and families to format and share their strengths, goals, preferences, and support needs directly with their IEP team.  For additional resources, you can also explore the The Arc@School Website, found here: https://thearcatschool.org/ Click here to view and download the Student Profile here:  https://bit.ly/3T8XD2G

Being a self-advocate means understanding what you need and feeling comfortable speaking up about it. At school, self-advocacy can help youth take a more active role in their education and make sure their voices are heard. This might include asking questions, sharing concerns, or explaining what helps them learn best.

We are excited to share a great opportunity from New Jersey's Division of Civil Rights. DCR Launches 2026-2027 Youth Ambassador Program DCR invites high school students with a passion for civil rights to apply to the 2026-2027 Youth Ambassador Program. This 9-month program empowers the next generation to work to eliminate bias and discrimination in their communities. DCR offers Youth Ambassadors mentorship, education, and leadership opportunities to encourage students to act as community change agents through education on the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. Participants will attend youth ambassador bi-monthly Monday evening meetings that will be tailored to participants’ civil rights-related interests. Applications are due by Sunday, September 20, 2026. Click here for program overview: https://www.njoag.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026-2027-Youth-Ambassador-Program.pdf Click here to apply: https://bit.ly/4A5xjaa

  Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday in September (Sept 7th in 2026) to recognize workers and the important jobs they do. From teachers and healthcare workers to construction workers and store employees, workers help our communities run every day. The holiday gives us a chance to appreciate their time, effort, and contributions. Labor Day also reminds us that workers deserve fair pay, safe working conditions, reasonable hours, and respect. Many workers fought for these rights so that workplaces could become safer and fairer. For youth, the holiday is a chance to learn about workers’ rights and consider what fairness and inclusion should look like in their future jobs. As youth begin thinking about future jobs and careers, Labor Day can also be a reminder to speak up for themselves and others in the workplace. Everyone, including workers with disabilities, should have equal opportunities, needed accommodations, and the chance to succeed. By learning about these rights now, ...