Disability Mentoring Day at Vanderbilt

Updated on 10/11/2011 10:36:16 AM.

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC) celebrated National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October by participating in a national job-shadow and career exploration program. The VKC coordinated a Disability Mentoring Day on Wednesday, October 5. The day-long activities were designed to link students and jobseekers with disabilities to employers interested in fostering more diverse work cultures and/or hiring people with disabilities.

Participants included 15 adults with disabilities and 15 Vanderbilt staff members from a variety of disciplines and departments. Examples include: Neurology, Radiology, and Information Technology Services. The morning included an orientation, HIPPA and safety training, and a 3-hour job-shadowing session. After lunch, participants heard a presentation from Vanderbilt Human Resources on the hiring process and how to ask for accommodations, participated in mock interviews, and received resume and interview feedback from staff in Vanderbilt Human Resources.

Evaluations from mentors and mentees were very positive. “Thank you for the opportunity. Disability Mentoring Day was great and I had fun in the process. My mentor was kind and patient. I can't thank her enough.”

Disability Mentoring Day was sponsored by:

• Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
• Next Steps at Vanderbilt
• Vanderbilt Human Resources
• Vanderbilt Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and Disability Services Department
• Tennessee Division of Rehabilitation Services-UT Corporate Connections
• Vanderbilt Patient Return to Work Program
• Project Opportunity

To learn more about the National Disability Mentoring Program, visit: www.aapd.com/site/c.pvI1IkNWJqE/b.5606851/k.CDB/Welcome_to_the_Disability_Mentoring_Program.htm.

To learn more about Tennessee Disability Employment Awareness Month, click the link below to view the media release.