Learn about heritage and culture this October with Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD). On this page, discover resources, web links, and booklists for some of the nationally recognized holidays and heritage months. Explore National Disability Employment Awareness Month and Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) commemorates the contributions people with disabilities have made to workplaces and to the U.S. economy. Below, PPLD has compiled a list of books, resources, and websites with more information.
Booklist
- The Power of Potential: How a Nontraditional Workforce Can Lead You to Run Your Business Better, by Tom D’Eri
- The Disability Experience: Working Toward Belonging, by Hannalora Leavitt and Belle Wuthrich
PPLD Resources
Disability Resources Guide
In this guide, find information about Assistive Technology at PPLD, along with books, websites, and local resources on disabilities.
Intelligent Lives, film on Kanopy
Intelligent Lives stars three pioneering young American adults with intellectual disabilities – Micah, Naieer, and Naomie – who challenge perceptions of intelligence as they navigate high school, college, and the workforce.
Websites
National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)
From the Office of Disability Employment Policy, part of the U.S. Department of Labor, this website contains information on NDEAM, including resources for employers, key messages for the month, and 31 activities to commemorate NDEAM throughout October.
The Campaign for Disability Employment
Learn ways that you and your organization can recognize National Disability Awareness Month, from the Campaign for Disability Employment.
The American Association of People with Disabilities
The American Association of People with Disabilities works to increase the political and economic power of disabled people.
Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)
DVR provides services which can include vocational guidance and counseling, short- or long-term training, job seeking skills, job development and coaching, assistive technology, and accommodations.
The Independence Center
The Independence Center provides information, resources, and support for disabled people to live, learn, work, play, and participate in civic life accessibly.
Job Accommodation Network
The Job Accommodation Network is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on job accommodations and disability employment issues.
Pikes Peak Workforce Center – Accessibility to Services
The Pikes Peak Workforce Center connects businesses with work-ready job seekers and employer-driven services. They help residents of El Paso & Teller counties with career transition, whether they are unemployed, underemployed, or employed.
Rocky Mountain ADA Center
The Rocky Mountain ADA Center provides information, guidance, and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) tailored to meet the needs of individuals and organizations in our region.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Colorado Springs resides on land inhabited for thousands of years by indigenous peoples, including the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho Tribes. Artifacts found at Garden of the Gods, one of Colorado Springs’ most beautiful natural attractions, date back an astonishing 3,500 years. The following resources can be used to learn more about the original inhabitants of Colorado and other lands.
Booklist
- Overdrive/Libby: Indigenous Peoples
- Warrior Artists: Historic Cheyenne and Kiowa Indian Ledger Art, by Herman J. Viola, Zotum Making Medicine, George P. Horse Capture, and Joseph D. Horse Capture.
- Halfbreed: the Remarkable True Story of George Bent, by David Fridtjof and Andrew Edward Masich
- Red twilight : the last free days of the Ute Indians, by Val FitzPatrick
- God is Red, by Vine Deloria
- Playing Indian, by Philip J. Deloria
PPLD Resources
Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes (Must have a library card that starts with a 4 to access outside of a Library location.)
Provides detailed studies of tribes from all over the United States and Canada, including small tribes and some that no longer exist. Gives detailed yet accessible information on history, religion, art, government, economy, daily life, and current social and political issues.
Explore the Digital Collections
Discover a wealth of historic photos and news articles from around the Pikes Peak region. A few possible search terms include Ute, Chipeta, Native American, American Indian, Severo, Sioux, and Chief Ouray.
Films on Kanopy
Use your library card to log into Kanopy and watch these films, or search “Indigenous Peoples’ Day” for more content:
Websites
History Colorado – Native American History & Heritage
History Colorado documents and shares the living history of Indigenous peoples who originally inhabited this state.
United Nations - International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
Explore information from the United Nations about the world’s Indigenous populations and the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.
National Museum of the American Indian
Discover online resources, collections, and exhibits from the National Museum of the American Indian.
Library of Congress - Living Nations, Living Words: A Guide for Educators
This guide from the Library of Congress offers teachers and other educators’ ideas for using U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo's signature project, "Living Nations, Living Words," in the classroom.
National Park Service – Mesa Verde
Learn about Mesa Verde National Park, a World Heritage Site in Colorado where the cliff dwellings of Ancestral Pueblo people still stand.
National Park Service – Alaska Native Cultures
Find out about Alaska Native culture through stories, photos, history, and information.
Museum of Indigenous People
Explore an online gallery of photos and videos showcasing the arts and cultures of Indigenous Peoples.