Disability Mentoring Day Celebration is a Double Success!

November 25, 2019 Contributor
MAKING FRIENDS – Amy Gorman of Stone’s Homemade Candy Shop (left) catches up with her mentee Samantha Gordon at the Disability Mentoring Day breakfast celebration. The 13th annual event was held at The American Foundry in Oswego.
A DAY TO CELEBRATE – Local businesses mentors celebrated Disability Mentoring Day with their mentees on Oct. 9. Pictured from left in the front row are mentees Scott Smith and Michael Ponzi. From left in the back row are Maggie Archer, mentor, Oswego GJP; Teresa Gilbert, event coordinator, LifePlan CCO NY and Oswego County Planning Network; and Larry Miller, mentor Oswego GJP.

OSWEGO COUNTY – The Oswego County Placement Network welcomed more than 60 guests to breakfast at The American Foundry in Oswego in celebration of its 13th annual Disability Mentoring Day on Oct. 9.

“The success of this event is two-fold,” said Lisa Cashel, disability resource coordinator, Oswego County Workforce NY. “It reinforces the connection between education and work for people with disabilities and gives them the chance to explore employment opportunities. It also helps to make employers aware of an available pool of qualified job candidates.”

SHARING EXPERIENCES – Keynote speaker Greg Callen from Move Along, Inc. spoke to an attentive audience in his address at The American Foundry in Oswego. The 13th annual event celebrates Disability Mentoring Day.

Disability Mentoring Day was founded in 1999 by the U.S. Department of Labor to promote career development for students and job-seekers with disabilities through hands-on experience.

The American Association of People with Disabilities took over the program in 2001 and Oswego County began hosting the event locally in 2006.

Cashel said, “This is an opportunity for people with disabilities to shadow their mentor on the job and participate in daily work activities at a local business.
It not only helps them explore their career options and gain first-hand experience, but it also allows employers to meet them outside the typical hiring process.”

Oswego GJP, Oswego Price Chopper and The American Foundry co-sponsored the event.

Cashel added, “Disability Mentoring Day would not be possible without the kindness and generosity of local businesses in our community.”

Other participating businesses include: ARISE, Inc., Auxiliary Services at SUNY Oswego. JCPenney, Oswego County, Oswego City Police Department. Ruby Tuesday, St. Luke Health Services, Stone’s Homemade Candy Shop, The Gardens by Morningstar, and Tops Friendly Market in Pulaski.

The Oswego County Placement Network is a group of volunteers from local agencies who meet monthly to discuss employment prospects for people with disabilities.

MAKING FRIENDS – Amy Gorman of Stone’s Homemade Candy Shop (left) catches up with her mentee Samantha Gordon at the Disability Mentoring Day breakfast celebration. The 13th annual event was held at The American Foundry in Oswego.

Disability Mentoring Day is one of two annual events organized by the group.

The other event, “Tools of the Trade,” is held every year in June and provides information and resources to those providing services to individuals with disabilities.

For more information about the Oswego County Placement Network or to participate in one of the group’s events, contact Cashel at [email protected] or 315-591-9158.

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