2020 LIFE Conference Offers Keynote from Self-Advocates

More than 500 people are expected to attend the 2020 LIFE Conference, the largest annual cross-disability conference in Delaware in support of people with disabilities and their families, on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at Dover Downs Hotel and Conference Center.

The conference brings together people with disabilities, their families, advocates, providers, educators, legislators and government officials for educational and networking opportunities. LIFE stands for Liberty and Independence For Everyone, and the conference addresses the topics of legislation, independence (through assistive technology), families and education.

The 21st annual conference, organized by a coalition of Delaware groups serving people with disabilities, runs from 8 a.m. until 3:45 p.m. Registration ($35-$95) is required. Conference participants can choose from 12 different workshops, with break times scheduled throughout the day to allow time to visit conference exhibitors.

Jarrett Butler, a 2019 graduate of the Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC) Junior Partners in Policymaking Program, will provide opening remarks at the conference. Butler is a frequent presence at Legislative Hall in Dover, where he is a passionate advocate for full accessibility in the community and for upholding rights and standards under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). Junior Partners in Policymaking offers policy training for Delawareans ages 15-22 with disabilities.

This year’s keynote speakers are also self-advocates. Donna and Ricardo Thornton of Washington believe that people should make their own decisions and choices, and individuals with disabilities can achieve almost anything with support. The keynote presentation will focus on “ADA 30 Years Later: How Far We’ve Come and the Work Left to Do.”

“For Delawareans with disabilities and their families, the LIFE Conference is an important opportunity to connect with educational and occupational resources that people with disabilities need to live, work and participate as active members of our communities,” said Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Dr. Kara Odom Walker, a practicing family physician. “I am excited about the role that self-advocates are playing in this year’s LIFE Conference because empowerment, inspiration and information are all critical in building a more inclusive Delaware. All of us at DHSS are proud to be a part of the LIFE Conference and to support Delawareans with disabilities and their families.”

More details about the conference, including session descriptions, the schedule, and a link to the online registration form are available on the conference website, www.lifeconferencede.org.


Disability Mentoring Day Provides Career-Building Experiences for Delaware Students

NEW CASTLE (Oct. 14, 2019) – Nearly two dozen students with disabilities, including clients of the Department of Health and Social Services’ Division of Developmental Disabilities Services and the Division for the Visually Impaired, will participate in career-building experiences during the University of Delaware’s Disability Mentoring Day on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at various locations in New Castle County.

The day will begin at the Courtyard Marriott-University of Delaware in Newark as 15 students from UD’s Career & Life Studies Certificate (CLSC) program and six from the Spectrum Scholars program will gather for a welcome breakfast and morning speaker. The students will hear from Anthony Pacilio, Vice President at JPMorgan Chase and Program Manager for JPMorgan’s Autism at Work program. JPMorgan Chase launched Autism at Work in July 2015 as a four-person pilot program to employ people on the autism spectrum. Since then, it’s grown to more than 150 employees in eight countries.

In September 2018, JPMorgan Chase partnered with UD and provided a 10-year grant to start the Spectrum Scholars program, which is administered by UD’s Center for Disabilities Studies. This is the first year the Spectrum Scholars students are participating in Disability Mentoring Day.

“The opportunity that Disability Mentoring Day provides these students to experience possible career paths and explore beyond a classroom is incredibly valuable,” said Governor John Carney. “As the students consider what is next for them, it’s important they have the chance to discover for themselves what their calling is, and just as importantly, what it isn’t, as they look to their future.”

Following the morning session, participants will take part in job shadowing experiences with employers in New Castle County before returning to the hotel for lunch and reflections on their experiences.

“Disability Mentoring Day gives our students a great opportunity to work with employers to learn the day-to-day responsibilities of particular positions and what education and experiences will help them prepare for a career in their chosen fields,” said James Sellers, Program Manager, Career and Life Studies Certificate program at the UD Center for Disabilities Studies.

Work sites that will provide job shadowing for the CLSC students are VCA Newark Animal Hospital, Early Learning Center at UD, Winterthur Museum and Library, Delaware Museum of Natural History, The College School, Short Order Productions Teakettica Graphic Design, Passport Health, Embassy Suites, You’ve Been Framed and DelDOT Canal District Terminal. The Spectrum Scholars students will be shadowing at UD Prosthetics Laboratory, Predictive Analytics Group and JPMorgan Chase.

“The benefits to the students, the businesses and mentors taking part in Disability Mentoring Day are countless,” said Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Cabinet Secretary for Delaware’s Department of Health and Social Services. “Not only do the students get a feel for the employment options available to them when they are ready, the employers get a chance to see the potential benefits of having a diverse workforce.”

Disability Mentoring Day is a national program usually held in October during National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The University of Delaware Center for Disabilities Studies started the first Disability Mentoring Day in Delaware 10 years ago. Today, a collaboration of agencies have joined the center, including the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), the Department of Labor’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Department of Education, the New Castle County Transition Committee, DisabilityIN: Delaware and Easterseals of Delaware & Maryland Eastern Shore, in planning events.

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 Easterseals at Victory Fellowship Church.

In a change from recent years, the Disability Mentoring Day event for a group of Delaware high schools will be held in November instead of October to allow more time after the start of the school year for planning the event. Several New Castle County school districts will host their third annual Career Development Day on Nov. 20 at the Siegel Jewish Community Center in Talleyville.

About 70 students from Appoquinimink, Brandywine, Christina, Colonial, Red Clay and New Castle County Vo-Tech school districts, as well as the Delaware School for the Deaf and Independent Resources, Inc., usually participate in the Career Development Day. Past sessions have included how to be a self-advocate under the Americans with Disabilities Act, work readiness, Q&A sessions with people from various careers and social media matters.


2019 LIFE Conference Offers Educational, Networking Opportunities for People with Disabilities

NEW CASTLE (January 10, 2019) – More than 500 people are expected to attend the 2019 LIFE Conference, the largest annual cross-disability conference in support of people with disabilities and their families, on Thursday, January 31, at Dover Downs Hotel and Conference Center.

The conference brings together people with disabilities, their families and professionals for educational and networking opportunities.  LIFE stands for Liberty and Independence For Everyone, and the conference addresses the topics of legislation, independence (through assistive technology), families and education.

The 21st annual conference, put together by a coalition of Delaware organizations serving people with disabilities, runs from 8 a.m. until 3:45 p.m. Registration ($35-$95) is required. Conference participants can choose from 12 different workshops, with break times throughout the day to visit the dozens of conference exhibitors.

Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long and Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Cabinet Secretary for the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, are among those scheduled to make opening remarks.

“The LIFE Conference is a wonderful opportunity for Delawareans with disabilities to connect to the educational and occupational resources they need to live, work and participate as active members of the community,” Secretary Walker said. “For more than two decades, this conference has provided information, empowerment and inspiration to people with disabilities and their families. That is what makes the LIFE Conference one of the most important events on the calendar each year.”

This year’s keynote speaker is Rebecca Cokley, Director of the Disability Justice Initiative at the Center for American Progress. Cokley is expected to give a state of the state on issues related to the disability community and share her thoughts on opportunities for positive change.

More details about the conference, including session descriptions, the schedule, and a link to the online registration form are available on the conference website, www.lifeconferencede.org.


More than 90 Students will Receive Career-Building Experiences During Disability Mentoring Day in New Castle County

NEW CASTLE (Oct. 16, 2018) – More than 90 students with disabilities are expected to participate in career-building experiences during Delaware’s Disability Mentoring Day on Oct. 17 at locations in Newark and Talleyville. Disability Mentoring Day is held each October during National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Several New Castle County school districts have again joined together to host their Second Annual Career Development Day at the Siegel Jewish Community Center in Talleyville. Sessions planned for the 75 students expected to attend include sessions on how to be a self-advocate under the Americans with Disabilities Act, work readiness and social media matters.

During lunch, employees from area businesses and organizations will rotate among the tables talking to the students and answering questions about their jobs.

Students from Appoquinimink, Brandywine, Christina, Colonial, Red Clay and New Castle County Vo-Tech school districts, as well as the Delaware School for the Deaf and Independent Resources, Inc., are expected to participate in the Career Development Day.

At the Courtyard Marriott-University of Delaware in Newark, 15 students from UD’s Career & Life Studies Certificate (CLSC) program will gather to have breakfast and hear from previous participants about the experience. They will then transition to work sites for job-shadowing experiences in the Newark area before returning to the Marriott for lunch and a panel discussion.

“Disability Mentoring Day continues to be a valuable experience for all those involved here in Delaware,” said Governor John Carney. “Whether it’s high school students with disabilities deciding on pursuing more education or entering the world of work, or older students deciding on a career path, Disability Mentoring Day offers experiences that will serve these young people well as they discover their passions and plan for their next steps.”

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 nine 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, the New Castle County Transition Committee, the Delaware Business Leadership Network and Easterseals 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 Easterseals at Victory Fellowship Church.

“Disability Mentoring Day is a great opportunity for these students to learn more about the employment options available to them and to interact with employers who could soon be looking to hire enthusiastic new employees,” said Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Cabinet Secretary for Delaware’s Department of Health and Social Services. “It also gives the students a chance to explore the opportunities that exist for them as they take more steps toward a life of independence.”

University of Delaware CLSC students will do job shadowing at: VCA Newark Animal Hospital, Casino at Delaware Park (Security), WVUD radio, Ricciardi Brothers, Fair Hill (Md.) State Park, UD Office of Education Technology, Gambles Florist, STAR Nurse Managed Primary Care Clinic, Trilogy Salon, Newark Police Department, Brewed Awakenings, U.S. Sen. Chris Coons’ office, the Disability Law Center, Bancroft Construction and Veterinary Specialty Center.

 


Governor’s Weekly Message: Building on Our Efforts: 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

(Wilmington, DE) – In his weekly message, Governor Markell recognizes the 25th anniversary of the American’s with Disabilities Act by sharing efforts both in Delaware and across the country to create a more inclusive society.

 

“Educational and government programs, building access, transportation and adaptive technology have all helped many individuals with disabilities achieve a far greater quality of life,” said Governor Markell. “Over the past twenty-five years, we have made great strides in fostering an environment that is welcoming and supportive of individuals with disabilities. By building on our efforts to create a more inclusive society we will keep Delaware and our country moving forward.”

Every week, the Governor’s office releases a new Weekly Message in video, audio, and transcript form. The message is available on:

 

YouTube: https://youtu.be/R8WmNpmkbfw

Delaware.Gov: http://governor.delaware.gov/podcast_video.shtml

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Transcript of the Governor’s Weekly Message: Building on Our Efforts: 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act