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The Florida Grantor, Summer 2004

Disability Mentoring Day Just Around the Corner

Disability Mentoring Day (DMD), scheduled for October 20, pairs students with disabilities with workplace mentors so students may gain hands-on experience or job shadow in the career field of their choice. Florida’s statewide planning committee consists of The Able Trust, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Commission for Transportation Disadvantaged, Florida Community College System, the Governor’s Mentoring Initiative, the Governor’s ADA Working Group and Volunteer Florida. This year, George Koehn, president and CEO of SunTrust Banks, Florida, is serving as the honorary chair of the statewide planning committee.

“Disability Mentoring Day is a win-win for everyone involved,” said Koehn. “It’s a great way for employers to learn first hand about the benefits of working with people with disabilities and gives students an excellent opportunity to interact with business professionals and showcase their abilities to prospective employers.”

More than 700 students and 300 businesses participated in DMD last year. According to the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)-DMD 2003 report, Florida’s Manatee and Sarasota counties had 333 students involved in DMD last year, which ranked them number one in mentee participation across the country. Sarasota County is a High School/High Tech site of The Able Trust.

National Disability Mentoring Day (NDMD) was organized in 1999 to increase awareness of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, recognized every October. NDMD is a partnership between the AAPD and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP).

If you are interested in becoming a workplace mentor, serving on a local planning committee or becoming a local coordinator in your area, contact Abby Cruz at (850) 224-4493, email abby@abletrust.org.