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Disability Mentoring Day is a national effort to promote the
employment of students with disabilities through the time-tested success of
personal and electronic mentoring.
What is DMD?
DMD promotes career development for students and
job-seekers with disabilities through job shadowing and hands-on career
exploration. Employers gain an increased awareness that people with
disabilities represent an overlooked talent pool. Disability Mentoring Day is a
partnership between the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability
Employment Policy (ODEP) and the American Association of People with
Disabilities (AAPD).
Background
DMD began in 1999 with fewer than three-dozen
student participants as part of a White House effort to increase the profile of
Disability Employment Awareness Month, celebrated every October. National
Disability Mentoring Day is patterned after other school-to-work activities
such as National Groundhog Job Shadow Day held in February. In 2003, 7,000
youth with disabilities from all 50 states, Washington D.C., the Virgin
Islands, and Puerto Rico were given a first-hand look into career opportunities
as they spent the day in over 2000 businesses, nonprofit and government
organizations. In addition, DMD activities expanded internationally to Belgium,
Bulgaria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Kenya, Nigeria, Scotland,
Spain and the United Kingdom.
What are the goals of DMD?
- 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 launch a year-round effort to foster mentoring opportunities.
Who participates?
Employers (private, non-profit, government,
educational), students with disabilities, and educators participate in DMD.
Where can I get more information?
Visit AAPD's Web site at
www.dmd-aapd.org.
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