October 30th, 2012

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NDEAM Mentoring Days Make Life Matter for People With Disabilities

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An aspect of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) we have not focused on is job mentoring for young people. But just like with any other teenager, the chance to talk with people who are in the workforce gives these individuals exposure to the types of careers that may be available to them after school.

In her Friday story for UDaily, Christina Mason Johnson said eight different departments at the University of Delaware and 14 area businesses gave talks and hands-on opportunities to people with disabilities in a variety of settings including retail, maintenance, hospitality, warehouse, office work, and media. One of Ambre Alexander’s accompanying photos shows Ira Shepherd, a student in UD’s Career and Life Studies Certificate Program for students with disabilities, learning how to operate the board at the college’s radio station.

Of course, Delaware Governor Jack Markell visited the UD campus to lend his endorsement to the activities. Markell has made increasing job opportunities for people with disabilities the focus of his year-long tenure as chair of the National Governor’s Association. Mentoring days like this one are exactly what he hopes will carry over to other states and encourage greater inclusion of individuals with disabilities into businesses and the community.

Mentoring days are great opportunities for television exposure during NDEAM. Gatherings like this one put on by the Eastern Maine Development Corporation last week in Bangor gives reporters several options for interviews with recruiters and jobseekers. For attendee Quai Love, the event also brought new perspective to his own hunt for employment. He tells WABI’s Laura Roberts:

I see other people that are disabled actually more than me and it’s great to see them. It’s an inspiration to see them and to see that there’s programs out there for us to further our lives.

Even better are videos of individuals with disabilities getting hands-on training in jobs they’d like to pursue. Reporter Caleb James of KIDK Channel 3 Eyewitness News went to Idaho Falls, Idaho, for this story about Houston Brown, who was one of 35 high school students taking part in Rigby Living’s Disability Mentoring Day. The camera captures Brown in an automobile repair shop checking oil, rotating tires, and performing other maintenance tasks that are part of his dream job. The story also has a nice twist at the end when mentor and pupil discover a family connection.

One need look no farther than the city of Allston, Massachusetts, for the positive impact of Disability Mentoring Day programs. That’s where Anne Fracht lives and works as an advocate for other individuals with disabilities. In her op-ed for the Wicked Local website, Fracht credits her mentor from the Self-Advocacy Leadership Series (SALS) for not only helping her find a career, but finding a life purpose as well. She writes:

Craig and the SALS program taught me everything I know about self-advocacy. They taught me how to speak up, how to stand up for myself, and how to live without being afraid. At first I was terrified when giving a presentation in front of others. But over time thanks to the presentation skills and role playing I learned at SALS and the direct support from people like Craig, who would often stand up with me while I presented to make me feel more comfortable, I began to feel confident and comfortable.

How has having a mentor, or being one, helped make life matter for you? Share in the comments section.

Photo by U.S. Department of Labor.

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