Students take part in Disability Mentoring Day

Fort Scott, Kan. -- Fort Scott High School students with special needs took part in Disability Mentoring Day on Oct. 14.

Juniors and seniors from Fort Scott High School spent time with local businesses to learn about career, training and educational opportunities in the area. The businesses participating were Tri Valley, Wal-Mart, Woods, Shepherd Team Motors, Fort Scott Community College and Medical Lodge.

Disability Mentoring Day began as National Disability Mentoring Day in 1999 in the White House to increase the scale of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Disability Mentoring Day is observed on the third Wednesday of every October. The program saw just three dozen participants in its first year. In 2001, after American Association of People with Disabilities began to administer the program, more than 1,500 students and job-seekers participated. The number of participants has continued to grow, in 2006 13,000 students and job-seekers participated in the United States, Brazil, Costa Rica and Germany.

The goal for Disability Mentoring Day is geared toward the promotion of career development for students and job seekers with disabilities through hands-on experience and job shadowing.

Both students and employers see benefits from participation in Disability Mentoring Day. History has shown that participation can result in an internship opportunity or function as a first interview; some have had on-the-spot job offers. Employers gain more than exposure to possible employees, they also lean about the experience of having a disability as well as developing relationships with the disabled community.

For more information about Disability Mentoring Day and how to participate go to www.dmd-aapd.org.