2006 DISABILITY MENTORING DAY Wednesday, October 18 Dear Friends: The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is pleased to serve again as national host of Disability Mentoring Day (DMD), a signature job shadowing and career exploration program that is a centerpiece of AAPD’s efforts to promote fulfilling careers and economic empowerment for the millions of students and job seekers with disabilities across the U.S. and internationally. On October 18, 2006, DMD will be implemented in every state and more than twenty international locations. DMD has grown rapidly since it was launched from the Clinton White House in 1999. Last year, more than 13,000 mentees benefited from participation in this career-exploration program, and the number of mentees is anticipated to grow significantly this year, as is the number of employer participants. AAPD is delighted to be partnering with the Social Security Administration (SSA) again this year as the national public sponsor for DMD, and we are excited that our long-time private sponsor Darden Restaurants (parent company of Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze and Smokey Bones) has substantially increased their participation this year to become the lead corporate host for the event. We look forward to working with SSA, Darden Restaurants, Verizon, and a growing list of corporate sponsors to broaden the reach and impact of DMD in 2006. Also in 2006 and as an expansion of its DMD activities, AAPD is launching a Disability MentoringLink program, created through AAPD’s partnership with SAP, a large global information technology company. On Disability MentoringLink, people with disabilities seeking increased mentoring opportunities can use email to create, maintain and enrich year-round relationships with mentors in their field of interest, also building upon experiences they take away from Disability Mentoring Day each October. Disability Mentoring Day provides important job-shadowing opportunities and career exposure to young people and job-seekers with disabilities. For many, this is their first chance to consider their future career paths; for others, this provides them door openings to longer-term mentoring opportunities, as well as internship and job-placement opportunities. The diversity of the program has evolved greatly as a result of the on-the-ground creativity of the local coordinators who design the programs in their regions and do the mentee-mentor matches. We are indebted to the over 200 volunteer local coordinators who make this program happen, and to the 2,000+ participating employers around the country who take the time to participate in Disability Mentoring Day each October and in longer-term and year-round mentoring and see the value and benefits of working with the disability community as an employee base. With warm regards, Andrew J. Imparato President and CEO, AAPD What is Disability Mentoring Day? Disability Mentoring Day is a large-scale, broad-based effort designed to promote career development for students and other job seekers with disabilities (mentees) through hands-on career exploration, job shadowing, and internship or employment opportunities, and matching of mentee/mentor relationships. This program is hosted nationally in regions around the country by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) in close partnership with the Social Security Administration, Darden Restaurants, as well as many additional national corporate sponsors, all of whose generosity and participation make this program possible. The Disability Mentoring Day program originated in the White House in 1999 with less than three dozen local students participating. Now hosted by AAPD, which is the nation’s largest cross- disability membership organization and is headquartered in Washington, DC, Disability Mentoring Day has evolved significantly to encompass participation in communities of every size in all 50 states, Washington, DC, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and more than 20 international locations. Each year, Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) is observed 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 serve as a launching point to promote a year-round, national effort to foster mentoring and career-exploration opportunities. **** "MOPD will work to encourage the ongoing communications between participating mentees and mentors. We would like to see this become a year-round relationship that results in internships and eventually gainful employment for the mentees." Joe Albritton Local Coordinator in Chicago, IL Chicago Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) WHAT HAPPENS ON DISABILITY MENTORING DAY? One-On-One Job Shadowing. Mentees with disabilities are matched with workplace mentors according to expressed career interests. This enables mentees to learn more from their assigned mentors 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 its various employees, and learn firsthand about different types of jobs and related opportunities within that career field. Diverse Programmatic Events. The programs on Disability Mentoring Day differ as well, based upon the local coordinators and the participating host employers (the participating mentors). As example, some programs offer kick-off breakfasts, while others do dinners or informational sessions the night, week or month beforehand. All of these events, plus other scenarios that take place on Disability Mentoring Day, provide an opportunity for the program participants to share their experiences and build a much broader and beneficial network of relationships. THE IMPACT OF DISABILITY MENTORING DAY In 2005, through a network of more than 225 volunteer local coordinators in regions around the country, Disability Mentoring Day witnessed participation of more than 12,000 students and job seekers with disabilities nationally and in several international locations. They were mentored by almost 1,500 private, non-profit, governmental, and educational organizations. Official proclamations for Disability Mentoring Day were issued by dozens of local jurisdictions and many state Governors. In addition, Disability Mentoring Day received publicity in national magazines, in both local and national newspapers, and on local and national radio and television stations. BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATION 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 who is interested in getting involved as a mentee, or if you are an employer, educator or vocational counselor who is interested in becoming involved as a workplace mentor, the first thing to do is review the list of local coordinators on AAPD’s website (www.dmd-aapd.org) to find a coordinator in your community. Then contact that local coordinator to express your interest in being a mentee or mentor. HOW DO EMPLOYERS BENEFIT? Disability Mentoring Day 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. You may also contact the Disability Mentoring Day 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 Disability Mentoring Day Toolkit on AAPD’s website and contact the Disability Mentoring Day National Coordinator at AAPD headquarters for planning and publicity resources and guidance. Disability Mentoring Day National Coordinator phone toll free: (800) 840-8844 (V/TTY) fax: (202) 457-0473 e-mail: dmdaapd@aol.com website: www.dmd-aapd.org For Local Coordinators: www.dmd-aapd.org/coordlist/coordlist.php DISABILITY MENTORING DAY PARTNERS AND SPONSORS Lead Sponsors Darden Restaurants Social Security Administration Disability MentoringLink Sponsor SAP National Corporate Sponsors American Airlines HP IBM Independence Technology Microsoft Pitney Bowes SunTrust Verizon DISABILITY MENTORING DAY … Hear from past participants Louisville, KY: Four mentees were offered year-long internships at Norton Healthcare, where they had spent DMD. Salt Lake City, UT: One young man with severe disabilities has an opportunity for an internship in a call center as a customer service representative. Mentee, St. Paul, MN: "I felt this was a very worthwhile experience -– as a result, I got several job leads plus the opportunity to do a long-term mentorship, and have also had a couple of job interviews.” Local Coordinator, Grafton, ND: “Out of the students that job shadowed on October 19th I would have to say that they are all success stories. Most of our schools are rural schools and the students don’t get the opportunity to job shadow specific sites. Some of our students traveled 100 miles just to shadow for two hours. The students were very grateful to have this opportunity and also the parents were grateful that their children got the opportunity to see a career of interest so that they have an idea of what the business is all about. Without DMD, a lot of our students would not get this opportunity.” **** “I never thought that a person with a disability could work in my shop,” said a happy mentor in Logan, UT. “Now I know that it’s the person’s skills, not what he looks like, or what devices he uses to help him out – as long as he can find a way to do the job then, well, he’s qualified.” Update – this mentor hired his mentee and two other mentees for holiday help in his shop. **** Princeton, WV: DMD activities included the participation of business representatives from nearly one dozen area businesses. Mentees met with business leaders and completed forms for follow-up scheduling of mentoring assignments, which will last for a minimum of six months. **** “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 AAPD National Office 1629 K Street NW, Suite 503 Washington, DC 20006 phone: (202) 457-0046 (V/TTY) phone toll-free: (800) 840-8844 (V/TTY) website: www.aapd.com Save the date for next year Wednesday, October 17, 2007