SourceAmerica Celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Calls for Continued Action

• SourceAmerica, which administers the AbilityOne Program, closes National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) 2026 by highlighting progress and calling for continued action to expand disability employment opportunities.
• From 2022 to 2025, the AbilityOne workforce grew from 32,652 to 37,407 employees, and the average wage rose from $16.43 to $19.68 per hour.
• More than 98% of products produced within SourceAmerica's network are wholly Made in America or compliant with the Trade Agreements Act.

Vienna, Va. (October 29, 2026) - As National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) closes its 81st year, SourceAmerica®, is recognizing progress in disability employment and calling on employers to keep expanding opportunities for people with disabilities.

Announced by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, this year's NDEAM theme, "Celebrating Value and Talent," underscores the contributions people with disabilities make to workplaces and communities nationwide.

SourceAmerica is a national nonprofit that helps administer the AbilityOne® Program to create employment opportunities for people with disabilities through federal contracts. Through the Program, employees who are blind or have significant disabilities manufacture products in America and deliver essential services that support the federal government. Today, more than 37,400 people with disabilities are employed on AbilityOne contracts throughout the SourceAmerica nonprofit network and more than 98% of products produced within the network are wholly Made in America or compliant with the Trade Agreements Act.

"Eighty-one years after NDEAM was first recognized, people with disabilities continue to demonstrate their value and talent across industries, including key manufacturing roles that help deliver mission-critical, Made in America products to federal customers and the military," said Richard Belden, SourceAmerica president and CEO.

The AbilityOne workforce in SourceAmerica's network is growing. From 2022 to 2025, it grew from 32,652 to 37,407 employees, and the average wage rose from $16.43 to $19.68 per hour.

Despite that progress, a gap remains. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities was 8.3% in 2025, more than double the 4.1% rate for people without disabilities. SourceAmerica's national network of nonprofit agencies is working to close that gap by connecting employers with talented candidates and people with disabilities with jobs in their communities.

Says Belden, "Our work does not stop when October ends. The work ahead is making sure every talented job seeker with a disability has access to meaningful employment."

As NDEAM closes, SourceAmerica encourages employers to carry this month's momentum through the rest of the year by connecting with nonprofit agencies in its network to create more employment opportunities for people with disabilities. To learn more, visit SourceAmerica.org.

About SourceAmerica
SourceAmerica is a national nonprofit that helps administer the AbilityOne Program - a program that creates employment opportunities for people with disabilities through federal product and service contracts. We are a bridge between our network contractors and federal customers, providing the resources and support they need to successfully navigate the AbilityOne Program. To learn more, visit SourceAmerica.org and follow @SourceAmerica on Facebook, X.com (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and LinkedIn.