School leaders, what if one of your students said, “We won an Emmy!”? Our ultimate goal as inclusive educational leaders is to have all of our students achieve at high levels. For Samuel Habib, an Emmy was never his end goal; he set out to document his life story so others can see the daily struggle, perseverance, and payoff for our students with disabilities when they are encouraged, supported, included, and advocated for.
In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, I encourage each of us to learn more about Samuel and your own staff and students with disabilities' journey. As you identify the barriers your students and staff face in your school and district, think about how you and other school leaders can use your privilege, title, and opportunity to remove some of those barriers. What can I (we) do to support and advocate for students and staff with disabilities? How can I (we) elevate their story of perseverance to pave the way and model for others?
Leadership Action Steps
- Check out the Department of Labor website for more resources and information.
- Observe October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
- Celebrate the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities past and present.
- Showcase supportive, inclusive employment policies and practices that benefit employers and employees.
September 29, 2023 White House Proclamation
“America is the only country in the world founded on an idea: that we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. This National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we celebrate all the people with disabilities who have moved our Nation closer to realizing that ideal and, in the process, have made America more prosperous, inclusive, and humane. As we celebrate the progress we have made, may we continue to open the doors of opportunity even wider for people with disabilities by advancing access and equity.”
Read the entire proclamation.
My Disability Roadmap Wins an Emmy
My Disability Roadmap, a New York Times Op-Doc directed by Samuel Habib and Dan Habib, won a National News & Documentary Emmy Award on September 27, 2023! See more photos and news about the award on the My Disability Roadmap Facebook page or on Instagram. In his acceptance speech, Samuel dedicated the award to their late friend and mentor, Judy Heumann.