What's New with DMD?
Florida to Celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month during October, 2011
Save the Date for Disability Mentoring Day: Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Florida Disability Mentoring Day will be commemorated on Wednesday, October 19, 2011. Florida’s DMD program is organized by The Able Trust and statewide partners, which provide support to local community liaisons who coordinate the matchmaking experience between mentors and mentees. Across the state of Florida, more than 5,000 employer mentors and mentees will take part in job shadow and mentoring activities during the month of October. Florida leads the nation in mentoring opportunities through Disability Mentoring Day, and was the first state to ensure DMD activities were offered in every county.
The Able Trust receives tremendous support from disability agencies and the business community in order to provide this innovative mentoring experience. The experience helps students and job-seekers with disabilities develop some of the necessary skills and experiences they'll need to compete in today's competitive workforce. Over the past ten years, The Able Trust has seen the value that mentoring adds to career development for students and job seekers with disabilities in Florida. Through collaboration among community organizations, business partners and educators, The Able Trust and its statewide partners have worked to expand opportunities for hundreds of job seekers with disabilities to improve their career knowledge and skills.
“The Able Trust is excited to represent the state and to serve the organizations that are helping to implement the Disability Mentoring Day program. It is through the help of such organizations and programs like DMD that we are that we are able to continue our mission to assist those with disabilities in securing meaningful employment.”
Dr. Susanne Homant, President & CEO
DMD 2010 Summary
“Celebrating a Decade of Mentoring Success”
Participation: 5,345 Individuals with Disabilities & Employer Mentors
- 2,754 pre-high and high school students
- 1,284 post-secondary students and adult jobseekers
- 35 veterans
- 115 individuals from other sectors
- 1,157 employer mentors
Success
As a result of DMD 2010, a number of mentees have gained a new mentor, a volunteer opportunity or internship, and some have secured a full or part-time job.
- 10 jobs were obtained & 18 internships were offered to DMD 2010 participants.
- 19 additional interviews occurred following DMD.
- 44 other ongoing mentoring opportunities were reported.
- 7,000 staff hours were committed to DMD statewide and 5,000 volunteer hours were dedicated to DMD statewide.
“In 2010, The Able Trust launched the next era of Florida’s disability mentoring movement. In the coming years, we will continue to work toward opening doors for more mentees across the state than ever before, and expanding the concept of Disability Mentoring Day to a year-round effort.”
Sally Ash, Chair, Florida DMD Statewide Planning Committee.
National Disability Mentoring Day (NDMD), sponsored by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), began in 1999 as part of a White House effort to increase the profile of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, celebrated every October. It is a national partnership between the AAPD and the US Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy.
NDMD was patterned after other school-to-work activities such as the National Groundhog Job Shadow day, and began with just three-dozen student participants, mostly in Washington, DC. In 2000, NDMD began to take root in communities across the nation.
If you would like to participate in DMD as a Community Liaison or mentee, please contact The Able Trust. Businesses who wish to participate in a job shadowing or mentoring experience or who are interested in sponsoring the statewide program can contact The Able Trust at (850) 224-4493 or write to info@abletrust.org.
Employers
You could play an important role in the career path of a young adult with a disability. Learn more about being a Mentor…
Students/Job Seekers
DMD will give you the opportunity to network with individuals who have already pursued the career track that interests you. Learn more about being a Mentee…
Community Liaisons
Facilitate job shadowing and Mentoring opportunities for young adults with disabilities in your community. Learn more about serving as a Community Liaison…