Disability Resource Center
Special Events
Employment Day l Golf Scramble l Art Show l Disability Mentoring Day
Community Involvement
Independent living is not just about an individual having the opportunity and responsibility to make decisions as well as to exercise their right to control their own lives; nor is it solely about finding a job, receiving equal services, being able to ride an accessible bus or get into a public building. It's also about having a social life, being a complete member of the community. The Center is committed to community involvement for individuals with disabilities. Annually, the center is involved with many events that promote the diversity and talent of individuals with disabilities in our community.
Center Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon
If we had a celebration every day of the year, it wouldn't be enough thanks to the volunteers that keep us running. Here are some pictures from our appreciation luncheon of dedicated office volunteers and our volunteer board members that help us to help you.
Art Show
"Celebrating the Beauty of the Human Spirit"
Center for Accessible Living Seventh Annual Juried Art Show
Date of Exhibition
September 19 to October 17, 2008 at the Center for Accessible Living, 305 W. Broadway, Suite 200, Louisville, KY 40202
Gallery Hours
Monday-Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Removal of Work
Art must be picked up on October 20, 2008 during normal gallery hours. The Center for Accessible Living does not accept responsibility for theft or damage. Please be sure that your art work is insured under your own policy.
What Is Disability Mentoring Day?
National Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) promotes career development for students and job-seekers with disabilities through job shadowing and hands-on career exploration. With leadership, coordination and resource materials from the AAPD, local communities around the country organize their own activities that bring students and employers together for informational sessions about career opportunities and one-on-one mentoring with volunteers at public and private places of employment.
DMD allows students, job-seekers and mentors to share their experiences and broaden their horizons. The Center has been told by participants, both the job-seekers and mentors, that they have come away from their encounter feeling energized and empowered.
DMD is an event coordinated nationally by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and the Center is the official Louisville Metro Area coordinator for city wide events.
What Happens on Disability Mentoring Day?
Disability Mentoring Day is officially commemorated on the third Wednesday of every October, but it is then implemented in locations around the country and internationally throughout the year. This is just one of many events during the month of October, which marks Disability Employment Awareness month. It is designed to benefit from local creativity, with each community planning activities to best suit the interests and abilities of its students, job-seekers and local employers. Although the core experience is one-on-one job shadowing, event planners may choose to open with a meeting for a group of students and job-seekers featuring several presentations and/or close with a reception where students, job-seekers and mentors can share their experiences. The type of mentoring experience depends in large part on the participants’ interests, education level, and work experience. Job-seekers can focus on specific career advice and discuss potential internships and job openings.
Highlights from Disability Mentoring Day 2008
The Center for Accessible Living, along with many community partners, once again celebrating National Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) on October 15, 2008.
The Center for Accessible Living matched students and job seekers who have a disability with
mentors for a morning of one-on-one shadowing in the mentors’ workplaces throughout the Metro Louisville area. One individual shadowed a former DMD
Mentee at the ResCare corporate office. Individuals also shadowed at Louisville Metro Recycling plant,
Norton Hospital and Citi Cards. Norton Once again hosted fifty (50) youth from Jefferson County Public Schools with a
morning of speakers and entertainment. Speakers included a member of the professional wheelchair basketball team, "Hill on Wheels"
and WHAS Radio personality Joe Elliott.
Citi Cards hosted their first large event for DMD. Citi opened their doors to several Oldham County Public School students, an individual from the Office for the Blind, Options Unlimited, and several youth from the Center for Accessible Living's Customized Work Experience program for youth with Autism. They all enjoyed meeting individuals with disabilities that work at Citi, one-on-one shadowing, and lunch.
Former Mentee Annie Henning with her 2008 mentee.
Highlights from Disability Mentoring Day 2007
For the third year, the Center for Accessible Living celebrated National Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) on October 17, 2007. This October was the second year the Center was honored to be the official Louisville Metro Area coordinator for city wide DMD events. This is just one of many events during the month of October, which marks Disability Employment Awareness month.
The Center For Accessible Living Partnered with Norton Hospital, JCPS, National Patient Account Services, Citi Cards, Jefferson Community and Technical College, and Greater Louisville Business Leadership Network, to celebrate Disability Mentoring Day on on October 17, 2007.
Several individuals with disabilities shadowed employees at National Patient Account Services, Citi Cards, and Jefferson Community and Technical College. Their morning involved on-the-job training and experience. Our participants helped with collections calls, security, cafeteria work, and an on-site company fitness room while they got to know their mentors. Most of the mentors and shadows ended their morning by enjoying lunch together in the mentors' usual setting.
Fifty students from Jefferson County Public Schools visited Norton Hospital in Downtown Louisville to learn about many exciting careers. A morning of speakers educated the students on careers, not only in the world of a hospital, but in several other areas of the community. A Police officer, several successful professionals with disabilities, and some of the hospital employees spoke to the students about their futures.
Highlights from Disability Mentoring Day 2006
The Center For Accessible Living Partnered with Norton Hospital, JCPS, Rescare, Citi Cards, Metro United Way, and Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, to celebrate Disability Mentoring Day on October 18, 2006. Fifty students from Jefferson County Public Schools visited Norton Hospital in Downtown Louisville to learn about many exciting careers. A morning of speakers educated the students on careers, not only in the world of a hospital, but in several other areas of the community.
Several individuals with disabilities shadowed employees at ResCare's Corporate Campus, Citi Cards, Metro United Way, and the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. Their morning involved on-the-job training and experience. Our participants helped with everything from running an entire office to assisting in a cafeteria while they got to know their mentors. Most of the mentors and shadows ended their morning by enjoying lunch together in the mentors' usual setting.
Citi’s First Disability Mentoring Day, A Great Success!
Lillian Fawbush, Citi Cards, Louisville KY
7/09/2007
“Its here!”
proclaimed the email sent to the management staff on October 18, 2006. The first Disability Mentoring Day for Citi,
Louisville, was finally here, and we were expecting four students, from the local public schools, to visit our site. We made
arrangements for the students to shadow associates in our security and cafeteria areas. In anticipation of the event, I am not sure
if I or the students were more excited.
At 9:00 am sharp, four very eager students arrived, ready to get a glimpse of a real work place. They were advised of their assigned areas, introduced to the persons they would shadow, and then went right to work. The students that shadowed our security officers helped record times and sign-in visitors, went on safety checks around the building, made picture identification cards and performed many other classified activities. One of the students had a special interest in the culinary arts, so, he was a perfect match to shadow in the cafeteria. In the cafeteria the students assisted our gourmet chefs, shadowed the cashier, and stocked the many food and beverage items sold in the cafeteria. In both areas they interacted with our entire staff coming and going from the building and the cafeteria. After a satisfying morning of hard work, they all enjoyed lunch in the Citi Café.
At the conclusion of the event our participants left with a new vision and a spring in their step. As the students departed they were given
a big thank you and memento of their visit. One of the students turned to me and said, “Working here today has given me an idea of
different jobs that I can do. I think I can get a job as a stocker in a grocery store.”
I returned to my office thinking how fortunate we
were to participate in such a rewarding program.
As a follow up, that young man did get a job as a stocker and is still employed. Citi is looking forward to participating in this event again this year.
Highlights from Disability Mentoring Day 2005
The Center For Accessible Living Partnered with ResCare to celebrate Disability Mentoring Day on October 19, 2005. Seven individuals with disabilities shadowed employees at ResCare's Corporate Campus, 10140 Linn Station Road Louisville, KY 40223.
The morning involved on-the-job training and experience. Our participants helped with everything from processing Accounts Receivable paperwork to answering the phones while they got to know their mentors. The mentors and shadows ended their morning by enjoying lunch together in the mentors' usual setting.
Quotes for the Day:
”I really liked it… I
felt like they weren’t just trying to pass the time, they treated me as
if I was actually there shadowing for my first day on the job.”
– Eric
Frey
“I learned a lot, I
really enjoyed this experience”
– Megan Thurman
“This experience was uplifting and empowering… she was really cool, I feel like I made a new
friend and we laughed a lot together.”
– Annie Henning
”My mentor made me feel welcome. I enjoyed answering the phones - it was a
great experience. I want to say
– Kevin Davis’Thank you’
to ResCare for letting me do
this.”
Kevin Davis spent the day with Linda Mann, Administrative Assistant. (Kevin is pictured with Linda above)
Anna Beasley spent the day with Nina Seigle, Chief People Officer, and Bill Stevens, Director of Compensation (Bill is pictured with Anna above)
Eric Frey spent the day with Jack Ritter, Training and Development, Angela Griffith, Instructional Designer - Both in the HR Dept. (Eric is pictured with both in the photo above)
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