Host a Disability Mentoring Day Event
Purpose: To provide students insight to the multitude of varying career trajectories in the professional workforce
Bender Leadership Academy coordinates Disability Mentoring Day to Pennsylvania and Delaware to promote career development for high school students with disabilities through job shadowing and hands on career exploration. Companies collaborate with Bender Leadership Academy to host students and inspire them toward future success.
What is Disability Mentoring Day (DMD)?
DMD is a national program, first started in the White House in 1999, through the American Association of People with Disabilities to promote career development for high school students with disabilities through job shadowing and hands on career exploration. Bender Leadership Academy coordinates Disability Mentoring Day for Pennsylvania and Delaware. Companies partner with Bender Leadership Academy to host students and inspire them toward future success.
When is DMD?
Disability Mentoring Day is always on the third Wednesday of every October and is implemented in locations around the world.
What is the Benefit?
By providing students the opportunity to visit a business in the community DMD underscores the connection between school and work. This experience encourages students to evaluate personal goals, target career skills that need to be improved, explore career paths and develop lasting mentoring relationships. Employers have the opportunity to demonstrate positive leadership in their communities, tap a pool of potential future employees, and learn more about the abilities people bring to the workforce.
2025 Hosting Companies
Advantage Home Health Services
AEO
Alcosan
Allegheny County
Bender Consulting Services
BNY Mellon
Calgon Carbon
Centimark
City of Pittsburgh
Covestro
Dollar Bank
Epilepsy Association of Western & Central PA
EQT
First Commonwealth Bank
Highmark’s A Caring Place
Human Engineering Research Laboratories
Nova Chemicals
OVR
Pheple FCU
Phillips
Pittsburgh Botanic Garden
Pittsburgh CLO
PNC
Point Park University
PPG
Sisterson
US Attorney’s Office
University of Pittsburgh
UPMC
How to Participate?
If an organization or a school is interested in participating in Disability Mentoring Day, please contact Scott Hammerstrom at shammerstrom@benderleadership.org
Highmark had the pleasure of having James in our Disability Mentoring Day last year and Bender Leadership Academy this spring. James is an absolute rockstar!
- PA Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
- Pre-employment Transition Services Funding
- Individual contributions
- Healthcare; Financial & Technology Start-up Funding
- Curriculum Sponsorship
- Charitable Foundations
- Funds National Expansion
- Government Grants
- Apprenticeship Programs
- Local Businesses & Government Agencies & Labor Unions
- Mentoring
- Job Shadowing
- Work-based Learning
- Employment
- Not-for-profit Organizations
- Mentoring
- Job Shadowing
- Work-based Learning
- Employment
- Highmark – Health & Wellness
- Financial Literacy
- Technology Companies
- Google – Classroom
- Microsoft Imagine Academy
- When We All Vote