Disability Mentoring Day Wednesday, October 20, 2004 Career Development for the 21st Century A partnership between the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), and a host of private sponsors. WHAT IS DISABILITY MENTORING DAY (DMD)? DMD is hosted nationally by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), in close partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and many national corporate sponsors that make this program possible. DMD is a large-scale, broad-based effort to promote career development for students and job seekers with disabilities through hands-on career exploration, job shadowing, and internship or employment opportunities throughout the United States and also abroad. Originating in the White House in 1999 with less than three dozen students from the local area, DMD has rapidly grown to encompass participation in communities of every size in all 50 states, Washington, DC, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 14 international locations. DMD is observed every year on the third Wednesday of October, in conjunction with National Disability Employment Awareness Month. WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF DMD? - To enhance internship and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. - To promote disability as a central component of diversity recruitment for a more inclusive workforce. - To dispel employers' fears about hiring people with disabilities. - To increase confidence among students and job seekers with disabilities. - To promote a year-round, national effort to foster mentoring and career exploration opportunities. WHAT HAPPENS ON DISABILITY MENTORING DAY? One-On-One Job Shadowing. In communities nationwide and many international locations, mentees with disabilities are matched with workplace mentors according to expressed career interests. This enables mentees to learn more about a typical day on the job and how to prepare for that particular career. Group Visits to Worksites. Mentees with disabilities can tour a workplace, meet with various employees on the job, and learn firsthand about different types of jobs and related opportunities within that career field. In addition, many communities also plan kick-off breakfasts, all-day informational seminars, and/or end-of-day receptions for all community participants to attend. All of these events provide an opportunity for the DMD participants to share their experiences and build a broader network of relationships. THE IMPACT OF DMD In 2003, through a network of more than 160 Local Coordinators, DMD witnessed domestic participation of more than 6,500 students and job seekers with disabilities. These mentees were mentored by almost 1,000 private, non-profit, governmental, and educational organizations at sites nationwide. Additionally, almost 400 mentees participated in international locations. Official proclamations for Disability Mentoring Day were issued by dozens of local jurisdictions and many state Governors. In addition, DMD received publicity in national magazines, in both local and national newspapers, and local and national radio and television stations. BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATION How Do Employers Benefit? DMD provides potential employers with opportunities to: - Recruit short- and long-term interns. - Gain access to a pool of new emerging talent. - Learn more about the experience of disability. - Develop lasting relationships with disability community leaders. - Gain exposure through media coverage of the event. - Demonstrate positive leadership in their community. - Promote job satisfaction with and the development of their current workforce. How Do Students and Job Seekers Benefit? DMD provides these mentees with opportunities to: - Learn firsthand about internship and job opportunities. - Develop lasting mentor relationships. - Target career skills for improvement. - Explore possible career paths. - Demonstrate their skills to potential employers. - Work closely with someone working in their desired career field. - Understand the vital connection between school and work. - Gain greater confidence in their own employability. HOW TO GET INVOLVED If you are a student or job seeker with a disability interested in getting involved as a mentee, or an employer, educator or vocational counselor interested in becoming involved as a workplace mentor, please review the list of Local Coordinators on AAPD's web site (www.dmd-aapd.org ) to find a coordinator in your community. You may also contact the DMD National Coordinator at AAPD headquarters for assistance in recruiting new coordinators in your community. If you are interested in serving as a Local Coordinator, please review the DMD Toolkit on AAPD's web site and contact the DMD National Coordinator for planning and publicity resources and guidance. Ollie Cantos DMD National Coordinator Phone toll free: (800) 840-8844 (Voice/TTY) Fax: (202) 457-0473 E-mail: GeneralCnsl@aol.com Web: www.dmd-aapd.org For Local Coordinators: www.dmd-aapd.org/docs/coordlist.html DMD PARTNERS AND SPONSORS About ODEP The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), located within the U.S. Department of Labor, is the first federal agency to be led by a Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary. ODEP provides national leadership to increase employment opportunities for youth and adults with disabilities while striving to eliminate barriers to employment, with a focus on both the demand and supply sides of the labor market. ODEP provides policy analysis, technical assistance, development of innovative practices and strategies, and education and outreach to employers, employees, and the disability community. For more information, visit www.dol.gov/odep. About AAPD The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the nation's largest cross- disability membership organization, is dedicated to promoting the economic and political empowerment of all children and adults with disabilities, educating businesses and the general public about disability issues, and providing membership benefits, such as financial services and product discounts. AAPD was founded in 1995 by a group of cross-disability leaders to help unite the diverse community of people with disabilities. For more information, visit www.aapd-dc.org. AAPD also extends its sincere gratitude to DMD national corporate sponsors, without whom this national program would not be possible. Save the Date for Next Year – Wednesday, October 19, 2005 In 2003, DMD was held on the official commemoration date, but many DMD events in Minnesota also happened in the subsequent winter and spring months, to augment mentees' and mentors' experiences. In Los Angeles, California, 80% of DMD 2003 mentors and mentees made arrangements to continue to communicate throughout the year. "I am looking forward to how individuals with disabilities can strengthen our workforce at the hospital – this is an untapped pool of talent for us." Hospital CEO, U.S. Virgin Islands "Increasing numbers of businesses and organizations have started mentoring programs for one simple reason — mentoring produces results. Its benefits are both immediate and far-reaching." W. Roy Grizzard, Jr., Ed. D., Assistant Secretary, Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor "DMD was an excellent way to learn about a particular job and the needed skills to be successful. I was delighted to job-shadow at a bank, since I plan to work in banking when I complete my training." A mentee in West Virginia "Economic empowerment is at the heart of civil rights for people with disabilities. By building relationships between mentees and mentors working in fields that interest them and building a year-round career exploration program, Disability Mentoring Day helps to create a pipeline of qualified workers and gives people with disabilities greater direction and motivation." Andrew J. Imparato, President and CEO, AAPD "Given a chance, young people with disabilities will make wonderful employees, and job-shadowing on DMD allows them to actually see what they would have to do to perform on a particular job." Mary Coody, DMD 2003 local coordinator, Florida