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.

Companies who Participate

Highmark/AHN
enGen
UPMC
PNC
Highmark Wholecare
Bayer
AEO
BNY Mellon
Calgon Carbon
FedEx Ground
Dollar Bank
Nova Chemicals
ServiceLink
Epilepsy Association
Goodwill Southwestern Pennsylvania
Geneva College

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

2022 Disability Mentoring Day Partners

Champion Sponsor

Jenny Homme - Highmark

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!

Accessibility Sponsor

Partner Sponsor

Advocate Sponsor

Friend Sponsor

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

Funding

Local Businesses & Government Agencies & Labor Unions
- Mentoring
- Job Shadowing
- Work-based Learning
- Employment
Not-for-profit Organizations
- Mentoring
- Job Shadowing
- Work-based Learning
- Employment

Employment

Highmark – Health & Wellness
Financial Literacy
Technology Companies
- Google – Classroom
- Microsoft Imagine Academy
When We All Vote

Curriculum

Disability Organizations
Public Libraries
School Systems
- Program Delivery & Student Referrals
Not-for-profit Organizations
- Grants & Collaborations
Trade Associations & Labor Unions
- Network Outreach

Community

The transition from youth to adulthood is challenging for almost every young person and this is particularly true for young people with disabilities. Part of a successful future includes finding and keeping employment. There continues to be a dilemma facing youth with disabilities. In spite of supportive legislation (e.g., the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act) and effective practices, many of these youth continue to experience high unemployment as well as insufficient opportunities to obtain competitive employment with the potential of career growth.

Guideposts for Success, National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability