Become an e-Mentor to Commemorate National Mentoring Month
Governor Bush recently declared January as National Mentoring Month to spur mentoring
relationships between youth and caring adults. The Able Trust’s e-Mentoring program
is the perfect opportunity for you to become a mentor to a young person with a
disability through online communication.
Florida research shows that mentored youth are 50 percent less likely to skip
school and have higher annual learning gains that non-mentored youth. Mentoring
programs have been shown to help reduce the dropout rate of youth with disabilities,
helping them to achieve more meaningful and positive post-school outcomes.
Becoming an e-mentor is simple. Visit www.abletrust.org/ementor and fill out the online e-Mentoring Mentor Application. After the screening
process is complete, you will be matched with a youth with a disability who is
interested in your career field. You can then keep in touch through weekly e-mail
correspondence by using a secure e-mail address. Mentoring communication is monitored
to ensure the safety and security of every participant.
For more information about The Able Trust's e-Mentoring program or to become
an e-mentor, visit the website at www.abletrust.org/ementor.
Disability Etiquette: Communicating with People with Disabilities
As an employer interested in tapping into the market of potential employees with
disabilities, disability etiquette is an important topic. There are several points
to remember when communicating with people who have a visual, hearing or speech
disability.
If you encounter a person with a visual disability, it is important to make yourself
known. Introduce yourself when you approach the person by letting him or her know
who you are. When giving directions, you must be clear and use specific wording.
For example, if you say, “the restroom is across from the exit sign,” a person
with a visual disability will not know where to go. Instead say, “The restroom
is about 20 feet straight ahead of you. Turn left and the door is on the right.”
Offer to show the person where the location is by extending your arm. Before you
exit the room or leave the group, announce that you are leaving. It is also polite
to offer to read signs, menus or other printed materials for the person with the
visual disability.
Before speaking to a person with a hearing disability, first get his or her attention.
Many people who are deaf or hard of hearing communicate better by reading lips.
Speak clearly, keep your head steady and do not put anything in front of your
mouth. Remember not to shout or over emphasize your words to someone who is deaf
or hard of hearing. It only makes words harder to understand. If applicable, use
a pen and paper as another form of communication. Always try to seat individuals
who are deaf or hard of hearing close to the front so he or she can see the interpreter
or be able to read the speaker's lips.
When speaking to people with speech disabilities, give them your undivided attention.
Do not try to rush the person; it will only make their speech harder to understand.
Ask questions that require one word or short answers. Repeating what you understood
the person to say is a great way to ease the conversation along.
The most important aspect to remember when communicating with a person with any
disability is to put the person before the disability. Keep his or her needs in
mind, and you will be successful at communicating to people with disabilities.
Florida BLN EmployAbility Symposium
Save the Date: August 18, 2006
The Able Trust will host the first Florida BLN EmployAbility Symposium on Friday,
August 18, 2006 in Tampa, FL. The symposium will provide employers with information
on accommodating people with disabilities, tax incentives, marketing to consumers
with disabilities and other topics. Service providers in attendance will find
out more about funding opportunities and employer relations.
The symposium will also be held in conjunction with The Able Trust’s 10th annual Ability Awards luncheon. The Ability Awards recognizes employers, service
providers, media professionals, entrepreneurs and young adults with disabilities
who have promoted employment opportunities for Floridians with disabilities.
State and local chapter members of the Florida BLN will receive a discounted
registration rate. Look for more information about the Florida BLN EmployAbility
Symposium in upcoming newsletters.
EEOC Offers Free Video on Mediation
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is now offering a new
video, "10 Reasons to Mediate," for private sector employers, designed to introduce
the EEOC’s National Mediation Program. The video is free of charge and has been
authorized to unlimited display and duplication.
Mediation is usually an alternative to the traditional investigation process
when a discrimination charge is filed against an employer. An early resolution,
sometimes solved by mediation, can avoid the need for litigation down the road.
The video features testimonials from previously reluctant employers about their
positive experiences with the EEOC National Mediation Program. The video is available
in CD format, 14 minutes long and open captioned. To view a trailer or learn more
about the EEOC's National Mediation Program, visit www.eeoc.gov/mediate/index.html.
If you would like a “10 Reasons to Mediate” video, send a request to MediationCD@eeoc.gov or leave a voice message at 202.663.4823. Please be sure to include your mailing
address in your request.
