Senate Passes Gordner Resolution Recognizing Disabled Workers

(HARRISBURG) - - The Senate of Pennsylvania today unanimously passed a resolution authored by Senator John R. Gordner (R-27) designating the month of October as "Disability Employment Awareness Month."

Senator Gordner, who chairs the Senate Labor and Industry Committee, said the resolution is intended to increase the public's awareness of the contributions and skills of Pennsylvania workers with disabilities. "Pennsylvanians with disabilities are important members of our workforce," said the Senator. "In fact, businesses that employ disabled persons report an increased level of productivity due to the motivation of those individuals."

In 1945, Congress enacted a law declaring the first week of October each year as "National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week". In 1988, Congress expanded the week to the entire month of October and changed the name to "National Disability Employment Awareness Month".

Senator Gordner's resolution recognizes accomplishments of workers with disabilities and the businesses that employ them and calls upon the citizens of the Commonwealth to work toward improving the job-readiness of people with disabilities.