NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES

Delaware’s Disability Mentoring Day to Provide
Career-Building Experiences for 56 Students with Disabilities on Oct. 17;
39 Employers in New Castle, Kent and Sussex Counties Participating

NEW CASTLE (Oct. 17, 2016) – Delaware’s Disability Mentoring Day continues to grow, this year with a record 56 students with disabilities to receive valuable career-building experiences on Oct. 17 by visiting a record 39 employers in New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties. Disability Mentoring Day is held each October during National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Sen. Chris Coons, whose Wilmington office is among the employers offering job-shadowing experiences, will be the keynote speaker at the Courtyard Marriott-University of Delaware in Newark. In Newark, 26 students will spend a portion of their day at 26 workplaces learning about the skills that are required for jobs in which they have expressed an interest. Keith Bosco of Community Integrated Services will be the guest speaker at Dover Downs Hotel, where 15 students will travel to seven work sites for job-shadowing experiences. And at Woodbridge High School, 15 students will get valuable exposure at six job sites.

“Disability Mentoring Day provides a valuable experience for young people with disabilities as they make the transition from school to the world of work,” said Gov. Jack Markell, who made advancing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities his nationwide initiative while serving as Chair of the National Governors Association for 2012-2013 and has championed continuing efforts in Delaware. “The students learn what is expected at a workplace and whether the work matches their interests. For employers, they get the opportunity to meet these enthusiastic young people with incredible abilities and willingness to work.”

Disability Mentoring Day is a national program, and in Delaware, the collaboration involves several agencies, educational institutions, business groups, and organizations, including the University of Delaware’s Center for Disabilities Studies, which started the first Disability Mentoring Day in Delaware seven years ago. Joining the collaboration are the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), the Department of Labor’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Department of Education, Glasgow, Christiana, Smyrna, Dover and Woodbridge high schools, the Charlton School in Dover, the Better Business Bureau of Delaware, the Delaware Business Leadership Network and Easter Seals of Delaware & Maryland Eastern Shore. The group is co-chaired by two young people with disabilities – Alyssa Cowin, an operations support specialist with DHSS, and Julia Hensley, who is working through Easter Seals at Victory Fellowship Church.

“Disability Mentoring Day is another important career-exploration experience for young people with disabilities to have,” DHSS Secretary Rita Landgraf said. “We know that increasing the number of workplace experiences they have, gives them a greater chance of being hired by an employer who will harness their talents and skills. Employment is the path to financial security, independence and inclusion as a fully contributing member to society.”

“Career exploration is a critical component of high school and college programs for all students and, in particular, students with disabilities,” said Brian Freedman, associate director of UD’s Center for Disabilities Studies. “Experiences like Disability Mentoring Day help students realize, and then advocate for, the types of jobs they want … and don’t want. We have seen Disability Mentoring Day lead directly to long-term internships and paid employment for several participants.”

Students from UD’s Career & Life Studies Certificate (CLSC) program and DHSS’ Division for the Visually Impaired, along with students from Christiana and Glasgow high schools, will participate in job-shadowing experiences in the Newark area. Students from Dover and Smyrna high schools and the Charlton School in Dover will go to job sites in the Dover area. Students from Woodbridge High School and the Division for the Visually Impaired will network with employers there.

Janell Booker, Michael Buono and Zachary Martin, all 2016 graduates of UD’s CLSC program and the 2015 Disability Mentoring Day, will speak in the afternoon at the Newark host site. The on-the-job experience that the three received illustrates why the Delaware Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) is such a strong supporter of Disability Mentoring Day.

“Providing students with special needs the opportunity to shadow employees at a variety of businesses will greatly enhance their ability to make their own meaningful career choices in the future,” DVR Director Andrea Guest said.

Employers participating in Disability Mentoring Day are:

New Castle County (26): Sen. Chris Coons, WVUD Radio Station 91.3, Best Buy, National 5 & 10, UD REP Theatre Company, UD Physical Therapy Clinic, UD Sports Media Relations, Kohl’s Department Store, Pet Kare II, Casino at Delaware Park, Home Depot, Precious Paws, UD Rodney Fresh Bakery, PNC Bank, Switch Skate & Snow, UD Horn Center, Walgreens, California Tortilla, Bahama Breeze, Olive Garden, UD Early Learning Center, UD Student Health Center, UD Office of Admissions, UD Carpenter Sports Building, UD Theatre Department and UD Fashion & Apparel Department.

Kent County (7):  DE Auto Service and Sales, Dover Downs, Department of Labor’s Employment and Training-Dover Office, Forrest Avenue Animal Hospital, Royal Farms, Air Base Mobility Command Museum and MainStay Suites.

Sussex County (6): Woodbridge High School School Resource Office, and Woodbridge School District’s Raiders Daycare, Cafeteria Crew, Transportation, Field/Turf/Facility Maintenance/Management Crew, and Custodial Crew.

Follow Disability Mentoring Day year-round on Facebook at Facebook.com/DelDMD or on Twitter @DelawareDMD. To access a blog post written by two 2015 Disability Mentoring Day participants, go to:
http://blog.cds.udel.edu/if-the-shoe-fits-two-ud-students-learn-on-the-job/

NOTE TO MEDIA: To download photos from Delaware’s Disability Mentoring Day 2015, go to:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/deldhss/albums/72157660234067825

For more information, contact Jill Fredel, Director of Communications, (302) 255-9047 (office)
or (302) 357-7498 (cell).

-30-

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.

Print