10/3/25 - Friday Video Share: "Celebrating Value and Talent with audio introduction"

Andrew Pulrang

03 Oct 2025 — 2 min read

Black and white line icon of a movie camera with white background and a blue, green, yellow gradient border

Opening

"Celebrating Value and Talent with audio introduction"

US Department of Labor | YouTube - September 3, 2025

What should we think of this video for National Disability Employment Awareness Month, (NDEAM)? Can force ourselves to view it entirely outside of the current political context of the Trump administration? Does it hit differently if we view it in context? How different is this NDEAM video from one that might have been produced by the Biden administration Department of Labor?

My impression is that there's nothing particularly offensive or wrong in this video. But there's nothing very challenging or persuasive about it either. It doesn't quite urge anyone to hire more disabled people. And while it uses "we" and "us" phrasing, it's hard to tell whether the video represents the words and feelings of actual disabled people. It's boilerplate disability awareness stuff, with maybe a bit more emphasis than usual on disabled workers' value to the country, as well as to their employers.

My other thought is that someone someday may be able to do a Masters or Ph.D. thesis on official disability-related media produced by the "anti-woke" Trump administration. I would read a study like that.

Have a nice weekend!

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