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Lakeland Ledger - October 18, 2010
http://www.theledger.com/article/20101018/NEWS/10185103/1001?tc=ar

MENTORING DAY

Disabilities Don't Keep Work Off Agenda

By Gary White
THE LEDGER

LAKELAND—Having a disability doesn't mean being incapable of working.

Wednesday's Disability Mentoring Day event in Lakeland is designed to draw attention to the desire of people with disabilities to join the work force.

The event, coordinated by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities and the Center for Independent Living, matches local residents with potential employers for job-shadowing opportunities.

This is the third annual such event in Polk County.

Lakeland Mayor Gow Fields is scheduled to speak at Wednesday's kickoff at the Jim Miles Development Center.

Some 105 mentees have signed up to take part in the event, said Jennifer Monje, contract manager for the Lakeland office of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, a state organization with regional chapters.

She said the mentees are students and adults ranging in age from 18 to the 60s.

Monje said several businesses will be hosting job shadows, among them Publix, Sam's Club, Lakeland Regional Medical Center, the Lakeland SPCA, Red Lobster and Olive Garden.

The actual mentoring takes place throughout October, which is designated as Disability Awareness Month.

Publix will be hosting about 500 mentees at stores throughout Florida and its corporate office in Lakeland, a spokeswoman said.

The agency's clients are all developmentally disabled, Monje said.

But clients from other agencies participating in the event include people with vision or hearing impairments or other physical disabilities.

Monje said organizers don't pretend mentees are likely to be hired by the companies that invite them for a day of job shadowing.

"It's more of job exposure, just to show them what that field is about," Monje said. "If they are interested, we encourage them to follow up with that employer if there are vacancies."

As part of the monthlong program, Monje said Lakeland Regional Medical Center held a job fair for people with disabilities Oct. 6.

Other groups taking part in Disability Mentoring Day include Polk County Public Schools, Polk Works, Alliance for Independence and Ridge Area ARC.

John Hurt, a site manager for the Center for Independent Living in Lakeland, said the job-shadowing sessions can help his clients decide what kind of work they are best equipped to do.

In addition to Fields, scheduled speakers at Wednesday's kickoff event include Nancy Woolcock of Polk County Public Schools and Dick Pelligrinni, president of the Polk County Business Leadership Network.

Disability Mentoring Day is a national initiative of the American Association of People with Disabilities and is organized in Florida by The Able Trust and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.

Organizers are no longer accepting applications by mentees, but any businesses interested in participating may call John Hurt at 863-413-2722, Ext. 202.

KICKOFF EVENT

The Disability Mentoring Day kickoff event will begin at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Jim Miles Development Center, 5204 U.S. 98 S., Lakeland. For more information, call John Hurt at 863-413-2722, ext. 202

Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or at (863) 802-7518.