(ROCK HILL, SC) Oct. 3, 2014 - 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 AAPD, local communities around the country organize their own activities to 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 is an opportunity to underscore the connection between school and work, evaluate personal goals, target career skills for improvement, explore possible career paths, and develop lasting mentor relationships. The program’s history shows that students’ and job seekers’ participation in Disability Mentoring Day can result in an internship opportunity with the host employer; function as a first interview on the way to a part-time or full-time employment offer; or even a firm on-the-spot job offer.

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; demonstrate positive leadership in their communities; and attracts positive media attention. In addition, employers can get involved by enabling employees to serve as volunteer mentors, functioning as a Local Coordinator for a community, and sponsoring Disability Mentoring Day at the national or local level.

In recognition of Disability Mentoring Day, South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation is partnering with Rock Hill High School, South Pointe High School, Northwestern  High School and Nations Ford High School on October 24, 2014 to offer students a unique opportunity in our community.  Selected students in SCVRD’s transition programs in those schools are participating in a job shadowing experience with local organizations including:

Fast Signs

Ebenezer Animal Hospital

Olive Garden

York County Forensic Department

York County Public Works

York County Sheriff Department

Sunshine House

York Tech Welding Department

*Additional vendors are still being added

During the hours of 8:45 am to 12:00 pm, approximately 50 to 60 students will shadow employees in various service and industrial industries listed above.  This will afford them an opportunity to experience first-hand the demands that these professions require and enable them to better plan for future careers.  

Disability Mentoring Day information provided by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)