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"Disability Mentoring Day" To Be Commemorated On October 16, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DMD National Coordinator
202-457-0046

Mariana V. Nork
Vice President for Communications
202-955-6114

WASHINGTON, DC, September 3, 2002 - The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) has partnered with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) to host the Fourth Annual "Disability Mentoring Day: Career Development for the 21st Century" (DMD). DMD provides job-shadowing and career exploration opportunities for students and job seekers with disabilities nationwide.

"Economic empowerment is at the heart of civil rights for people with disabilities," explains Andrew J. Imparato, AAPD's President and CEO. "By building relationships between students with disabilities and mentors who are working in fields that interest them, Disability Mentoring Day helps to create a pipeline of qualified workers for participating employers and gives disabled students greater direction and motivation to pursue their career goals." He further adds, "We applaud U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Elaine Chao and the new Office of Disability Employment Policy at DOL for partnering with AAPD and promoting DMD as a complement to President Bush's New Freedom Initiative."

DMD was launched in 1999 by the White House as an effort to help boost the employment of people with disabilities and to heighten the impact of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. In just three years, DMD has expanded from a small DC-based event for three dozen students, to a national event with a rapidly growing network of volunteer Local Coordinators all across the country, more than 1,500 Mentees and more than a dozen National Corporate Sponsors. Now in its role as National Host, AAPD recruits Local Coordinators in locations across the country, promotes the event nationally, and provides resource materials and technical assistance to its substantial corps of participating volunteers.

"AAPD is excited and honored to serve as National Host of DMD again this year," said Ollie Cantos, DMD National Coordinator and AAPD's General Counsel and Director of Programs.

"Based on early projections, we anticipate that on October 16, there will be more than 3,000 Mentees in communities representing 33 states plus the US Virgin Islands and Washington, DC, with even more states anticipated to participate. Already, hundreds of both public and private employers will be hosting students and job seekers at their workplaces, and this collective result shows what can happen with a little synergy and a lot of dedication."

AAPD is also pleased to have broad participation from the corporate community. These companies are the ones that make DMD a truly effective public-private partnership and, with their support and participation, they are helping AAPD to tackle the longstanding problem of unemployment and underemployment among people with disabilities. The 2002 National Corporate Sponsors are:

AAPD encourages employers, educators, disability advocates, parents, and students and job seekers with disabilities to get involved with Disability Mentoring Day in their area. For a list of DMD participating cities or for information about how to get involved, contact DMD at 800-840-8844, or visit the AAPD website.

The American Association of People with Disabilities is a national membership organization promoting the economic and political empowerment of all people 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 -- including their family, friends, and supporters -- and be a national voice for change in implementing the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act -- equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency.