As part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October, the Disability Equity Office within U-M’s Equity, Civil Rights and Title IX Office will host a series of events focused on advancing disability awareness and inclusion at the University of Michigan.

DEO will kick off the month-long celebration by welcoming Haben Girma — an award-winning advocate, best-selling author, and the first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School — to deliver the keynote address at the university’s third annual NDEAM resource fair.

The event will take place from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Michigan Union with the keynote address at 11 a.m. Registration is required to reserve seating. The event is free and open to faculty, staff, students and the local community.

“This annual event is a wonderful opportunity to highlight the contributions and talent of employees with disabilities and accessibility allies who create a more accessible and disability-inclusive environment for the entire U-M community through their dedication and innovation,” said Allison Kushner, director of disability equity and Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator for the university. 

The resource fair will feature information, resources and giveaways from 16 campus and community partners, including Services for Students with Disabilities, MHealthy, Faculty and Staff Counseling and Consultation Office, MDisability and Leader Dogs for the Blind.

Partners will be available to answer questions and share information on their services, including tips for planning accessible events, creating disability-inclusive spaces, mental health awareness, and resources for accommodations.

In her keynote address, “Disability & Innovation: A Conversation with Haben Girma,” Girma will share her personal story of transforming from a self-advocate to a community advocate and how each individual can make their communities more accessible for people with disabilities.

The address will be followed by a meet-and-greet and a signing of her book, “Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law.” American Sign Language interpreters will be on site and provide live interpretation of the address. 

“Many advocates I admire, including good friends, graduated from the University of Michigan. I’m thrilled to finally visit and meet the students, faculty, and community members shaping our future,” Girma said.

In addition, resource fair attendees will have the opportunity to enter to win a guided tour of Michigan Stadium, an autographed U-M basketball, and a bundle of disability-inclusive books from DEO’s bookclub. 

This year marks the 80th anniversary of NDEAM, which is organized by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy to celebrate the positive impact of people with disabilities in the American workforce. The 2025 theme is “Celebrating Value and Talent.”

The DEO will ramp up hosting various workshops and trainings open to the U-M community this month — which is Deaf Awareness Month — and throughout October. Session topics include breaking down Title II digital accessibility rules, strategies for communicating with Deaf/hard-of-hearing/Deaf-Blind individuals, and tips for executive functioning and time management in the workplace.

The DEO, established in 2024, provides a range of services to campus, including:

• Consultations on accessibility, disability inclusion and compliance matters.
• Education and training.
• Facilitation of employee workplace accommodations. 

DEO also oversees the university’s compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, a federal civil rights law that protects people with disabilities from discrimination.