Press Releases
October 18, 2006
Florida Disability Mentoring Day a Growing Success
This October 18, 2006, over 13,000 students and job seekers with disabilities and business professionals from across the country came together to participate in the National Disability Mentoring Day. DMD is a national job shadowing event that connects students and job seekers with business professionals from various career fields.
In Florida, more than 700 students and job seekers with disabilities were matched with business professionals to learn about careers in technology, communications, law, finance, healthcare and other careers in their areas of interest. NASA, Kennedy Space Center, Darden Restaurants, Clear Channel Radio, the Florida Supreme Court, SunTrust Bank and the Florida’s Governor and Lieutenant Governor’s Office were just a few organizations and businesses that participated in this year’s DMD.
This was the fifth year in which The Able Trust has partnered with several organizations throughout Florida to host Florida DMD. More than 100 volunteer community liaisons from across the state successfully paired student and job seekers with business professional, allowing students the opportunity to experience first-hand workplace activities in their fields of interest. As a result of DMD, several students and job seekers were offered internships, employment, volunteer opportunities and continued mentoring relationships.
“As a result of the tireless efforts of the community liaisons, sponsors and organizers, this year, more than 700 mentees and mentors were able to share a positive DMD experience.” said Kristen Knapp, Vice President of Public Relations for The Able Trust. “With only 58% of our more than two million citizens with disabilities unemployed, we look forward to the continuous growth of this event, as well as, to providing greater employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.”
The Able Trust and partnering organizations commemorated Florida DMD with a kick-off celebration in Miami. Marc Buoniconti, son of NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Nick Buoniconti and Ambassador for the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, served as Honorary Chair for the celebration.
Disability Mentoring Day is hosted nationally by the American Association of People with Disabilities and sponsored by Darden Restaurants. Florida DMD major sponsors include: The Able Trust; the Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation; Clear Channel Radio; Volunteer Florida; Florida Mentoring Partnership.
To see photos from DMD 2006, click here.