The Department of Labor announced this week that it has designated Oct. 15, 2003 as National Disability Mentoring Day, which will promote 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.
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Month.
"National Disability Mentoring Day is an opportunity for young people
with disabilities to gain firsthand exposure to many of the career options available
to them," says Roy Grizzard, assistant secretary of labor for the Office
of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). "It will also make employers and
the general public increasingly aware that people with disabilities represent
a largely untapped resource for sustaining our national economy and well-being."
Grizzard also gave special recognition to the American Association of People
with Disabilities, which co-sponsors National Disability Mentoring Day with
ODEP and works with other national organizations to promote career exploration
for students and job seekers with disabilities. In 2003, young people in all
50 states, Guam, American Samoa, Japan, Italy, Singapore, France, the United
Kingdom, and Australia are expected to participate in National Disability Mentoring
Day.