Workforce Investment Board Teams Up With Local Employees for Disability Mentoring Day

Staff from Human Technologies Corporation and students from Herkimer County BOCES working together for Disability Mentoring Day.

Young people with disabilities had the opportunity to learn that the world of work can include them as employers joined the Workforce Investment Board of Herkimer, Madison and Oneida Counties to participate in "Disability Mentoring Day: Career Development for the 21st Century," on October 25.

"The success of our economic development efforts depends on our ability to harness all of the skills of region's people, and create new opportunities for people whose great potential has been overlooked," said Alice Savino, WIB executive director. "The WIB is sponsoring our local activities as part of Disability Mentoring Day to underscore the connection between school and work. We want young people with disabilities who are in our schools to be setting high goals for themselves, and this is one way to help them learn about career opportunities in the region."

Mentor Catherine Scherzer (left) of Excellus BlueCross BlueShield held with mentee Anu Malempati.

Disability Mentoring Day is sponsored by the American Association of People with Disabilities in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy. Disability Mentoring Day promotes career development for students and job-seekers with disabilities through job shadowing and hands-on career exploration. With leadership, coordination and resource materials from The American Association of People with Disabilities, local communities around the country organize their own activities that bring students and employers together for informational sessions about career opportunities and one-on-one mentoring with volunteers at public and private places of employment.

Disability Mentoring Day enables students and job-seekers to spend part of a day visiting a business or government agency that matches their interests and have one-on-one time with volunteer mentors. Disability Mentoring Day provides public and private employers with an opportunity to recruit interns, tap a pool of potential future employees, learn more about the experience of disability, develop lasting relationships with disability community leaders, and demonstrate positive leadership in their communities.

Locally, Disability Mentoring Day is in its second year. Starting in year 2005, five individuals were mentored between Excellus Blue Cross/Blue Shield and The Utica National Insurance Group. On October 25, close to 30 individuals with disabilities had the opportunity to job shadow a mentor at a number of businesses in the Mohawk Valley.

Mentoring agencies included: Utica National Insurance Group, Human Technologies Corp., Excellus BC/BS, Peacemakers, DeIorio's, the Bank of New York, Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency, Dr. Lisa Blanchfield - Life Skills Director, Oneida County Workforce Development, The Masonic Medical Research Lab, Red Lobster and St. Luke's Home.

Savino urged employers interested in learning more about the benefits of hiring individuals with disabilities to contact her at (315) 793-6037.