October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and on October 21st 2009, the NYC Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities will host a Disability Mentoring Day.
What is Disability Mentoring Day?
Put simply, Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) is a day long one-on-one job shadowing event where disabled students and jobseekers are matched with workplace mentors based on career interests. Businesses gain a better understanding of the unique skills and abilities that disabled individuals can bring to the workplace, and impart knowledge and advice to the mentees, while the mentees learn about the day-to-day activies and what they must bring to the table to be successful in that career field.
What are the objectives of Disability Mentoring Day?
- To enhance internship and employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
- To promote disability as a central component of diversity recruitment for a more inclusive workforce.
- To dispel employers' fears about hiring people with disabilities.
- To increase confidence among students and job seekers with disabilities.
- To provide career network exploration and job shadowing opportunities.
- To encourage résumé, interview skills and portfolio development through MOPD workshops.
- To serve as a launching point to promote a year-round, national effort to foster mentoring and career exploration opportunities.
If you are interested in participating in Disability Mentoring Day, as a business or as an individual, follow the relevant link below to the NYC Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities website.