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October 2012

Archives for October 2012

CLEE Staff at Transition Fair – Jackson TN

October 30, 2012

Schools, organizations, families and students need supports in order for learners to achieve a seamless transition from high school to post-secondary education, vocational training or employment – especially when the transitioning student faces potential barriers such as intellectual or physical disabilities. The Center for Literacy, Education and Employment is part of nation-wide efforts to provide those supports.

Photo Courtesy of WBBJ-TV
Click to view their report on the event.

As part of this work, Melvin Jackson, CLEE Transition Coordinator in West Tennessee, participated in the Jackson Madison County Transition Fair on October 27.   This event was open to the community and designed to support students with disabilities by providing interagency information for parents, students, teachers, and others on transition topics such as housing, guardianship, employment, schooling, recreation, community services, and more. As part of the fair, Melvin provided information on transition and self-determination to attendees, networked with many who attended, and discussed resources available here at the Center.

Joey Ellis, STEP (left) and
Melvin Jackson, CLEE (right)

Pictured at right is Melvin with Joey Ellis, the Middle Tennessee Coordinator for STEP (Support and Training for Exceptional Parents).  CLEE and STEP partner on several Tennessee initiatives including providing support for students with disabilities who are transitioning to post-secondary career or college, and their families.  CLEE’s Tennessee initiative with Transitions and Self-Determination for students with disabilities is funded by the Tennessee Department of Education, Division of Special Education, and the Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities.

Filed Under: CLEE in the News, News

Linda Randolph, Regional Supervisor, TN DHS Division of Rehabilitation Services, and Lisa Kinkade, with the Proclamation of Disability Employment Awareness Month in Jackson and Madison County

Jackson TN Chamber Spotlights Corporate Connections

October 24, 2012

Linda Randolph, Regional Supervisor, TN DHS Division of Rehabilitation Services, and
Lisa Kinkade, with the Proclamation of Disability Employment Awareness Month
in Jackson and Madison County

Check out the great article on Corporate Connections in the Jackson TN Chamber of Commerce Newsletter – based on an interview with regional account representative Lisa Kincade!

View the Article/Interview with Lisa

View the full Jackson Chamber Newsletter

Corporate Connections account representatives seek to increase employment opportunities for individuals served
by the Tennessee Division of Rehabilitation Services. Representatives like Lisa Kincade, conduct marketing, education and outreach activities to engage the business community, providing statewide disability resources and employment services to assist Tennessee businesses in recruiting, hiring, and retaining employees with disabilities.

For more information about Corporate Connections services please contact Stephanie Cowherd scowherd@utk.edu .

Filed Under: CLEE in the News, News

2012 Disability Employment Awareness Event – Knoxville TN

October 23, 2012

Emcee Lori Tucker at KAEC’s 2012
Disability Employment Awareness Breakfast

The Knoxville Area Employment Consortium (KAEC) hosted their annual Disability Employment Awareness Breakfast at the Downtown Hilton Hotel on Monday, October 22, 2012. This year’s breakfast was chaired by Tina Jones, DRS Corporate Connections and emceed by WATE TV’s Lori Tucker. This was the second year Ms. Tucker served as the emcee for the Breakfast. In addition, Mayor Madeline Rogero attended this breakfast and presented a proclamation publicly recognizing the month of October as Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Speakers Fiona Hawks (left) and Mayor Madeline Rogero (right)

This year’s featured speaker was Fiona Hawks out of Nashville, TN.  Fiona has Downs Syndrome but she certainly hasn’t let that diagnosis hold her back.  She lives independently, drives her own car to work, and enjoys working a full-time job with benefits.  Fiona attributed much of her success to the support of her parents and the early intervention programs they enrolled her in.

 

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Recognized at this event was KAEC’s Rudy Sullivan Award Winner: Sarah Welton.  Each year the Rudy Sullivan Award is bestowed to a person with a disability who has achieved employment success through exceptional motivation and persistence.

2012 Rudy Sullivan Award Winner
Sara Welton (center) with her parents

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month – a highlight of the month is a program called Disability Mentoring Day (DMD).  DMD gives students and job seekers with disabilities the opportunity to be matched with workplace mentors according to their expressed career interests.  Mentees experience a typical day on the job and learn how to prepare to enter the world of work.  Employers gain an increased awareness that people with disabilities represent an overlooked talent pool.  DMD is a program of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD).

KAEC Board and members with Fiona Hawk and her father
KAEC Chair – Tina Jones, DRS Corporate Connections

The Knoxville Area Employment Consortium Steering Committee facilitates DMD each year.  This year KAEC matched over 80 students and job seekers with disabilities with 12 different companies. The following companies participated as Mentors for Disability Mentoring Day in 2012:

Bearden United Methodist Child Care

City of Knoxville

Federal Bureau of Investigation

KNoxville Convention Center

Marriott Business Services

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Ridgeview Resources

Sam’s Club East

Sam’s Club West

SunTrust

Walgreens

WATE TV

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Celebrate Employees with Disabilities in October!

October 17, 2012

“During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we recognize the indispensable contributions people with disabilities make in our economy and recommit to building a country where each of us can realize the full extent of our dreams.”
Barack Obama

By presidential proclamation, October 2012 is proclaimed as a month to, “…rededicate ourselves to bringing down barriers and raising up aspirations for all our people, regardless of disability, so we may share in a brighter future together.”

Supported by the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), organizations across the country join in this month’s national campaign to raise awareness about disability employment issues and to celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. ODEP provides a wealth of resources and ideas for those wishing to support this campaign – this month and throughout the year.

The Center for Literacy, Education and Employment  is proud to support National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Our Corporate Connections representatives, in conjunction with the Tennessee Division of Rehabilitation Services, are organizing and supporting activities across the state, including:

  • Disability Mentoring
  • Awards and Recognition for employers and employees
  • Community Awareness events
  • Employer Outreach & Education presentations

For more information about NDEAM events and opportunitities in Tennessee, visit Tennessee Works or contact:  Stephanie Cowherd  scowherd@utk.edu

Filed Under: CLEE Partner Announcement, News, Upcoming Events

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Knoxville, TN 37996
Phone: 865-974-4109
Fax: 865-974-3857
Email: cleeinfo@utk.edu

 

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