In October, the Postal Service will observe National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which is marking its 80th anniversary this year.
The annual commemoration began in 1945 as a weeklong recognition of workers with disabilities and expanded to a full month in 1988.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy promotes the observance, whose theme this year will be “Celebrating Value and Talent.”
“Celebrating America means celebrating the value and talent that all Americans — including people with disabilities — add to our nation’s workplaces and communities,” said Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer. “As we approach the 80th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the Department of Labor remains committed to ensuring all people have the opportunity to find meaningful work.”
The Postal Service employs over 42,000 individuals who identify as having a disability.
Employees with a disability can self-identify, or update a disability already on file, by completing PS Form 2489, Self-Identification of a Physical or Mental Disability.
Information obtained from this form is kept confidential and serves as a tool to improve the recruitment, hiring, advancement and retention of individuals with disabilities. PS Form 2489 is not a request for reasonable accommodation.
The Disabilities & Reasonable Accommodations page on the MyHR website has more information about reasonable accommodation at USPS, while the Department of Labor’s website has an overview of National Disability Employment Awareness Month.