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Upcoming events highlight employment issues for people with disabilities
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August 26, 2003 -- National Disability Mentoring Day on Oct. 15 and the National Business Leadership Summit Nov. 5-7 are two upcoming events that focus on employability of persons with disabilities.
Begun in 1999, National Disability Mentoring Day."promotes career development for students and job seekers with disabilities through one-on-one job shadowing, group visits to public and private employers and hands-on career exploration. It is held in October in conjunction with National Disability Employment Awareness Month," says a press release from the U. S. Dept. of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy. The American Association of People with Disabilities co-sponsors National Disability Mentoring Day along with the U. S. Dept. of Labor Office. Young people in all 50 states, Guam, American Samoa, Japan, Italy, Singapore, France, the United Kingdom, and Australia are expected to participate. For more information about Disability Mentoring Day, go to http://www.dmd-aapd.org/
The National Business Leadership Summit this year will be Nov. 5-7 in San Francisco with the theme "Imagine: Workforce Inclusion." Primarily targeted at employers, the summit will focus on strategies to effectively employ people with disabilities, and people with disabilities are urged to attend. "Over 400 attendees are expected from Business Leadership Networks across the continent as well as other companies and individuals who are keen on improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities," say organizers. Two and half days of workshops, panels, and roundtable discussions conducted by employers, specialists and representatives of disability and government organizations "will emphasize best practices and informational sessions designed to assist employers to more effectively employ people with disabilities." Information is online at the National Business Leadership Summit website.
In July, the Dept. of Labor awarded grants totaling $17 million to 42 organizations to enhance the employment and career advancement of people with disabilities through services available at One-Stop Career Centers. The grants serve organizations for people with disabilities for 30 months. Read nore about One-Stop Career Centers.