Disability Mentoring Day, a professional mentoring experience, is sponsored Nationally by the American Association of People with Disabilities. It began in 1999 as part of a White House effort to increase the profile of Nationally Disability Mentoring Awareness Month, celebrated every October. National Disability Mentoring Day was patterned after other school-to-work activities and began with just three dozen participants.

The Northeast Florida DMD event will bring you current and interesting topics to assist in your career exploration. Lunch is provided to the first 400 who register. Conference seating is limited, so register early. If you need specific accommodations, please include your request in your registration.

All mentors receive ILRC mentor shirts and attendees will have the chance to win great prizes!

Conference Workshops (updated weekly):

Find Your Fit Within the World of Work: STEM Careers (Rooms G2 and G3)

Sessions: 9:40, 10:10, 10:40, 11:10, 1:30, 2:10

This interactive workshop allows you to take a brief assessment to gain a prospective into your career interest. You’ll then travel around the world, exploringSTEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) careers in your defined interest areas, chatting with students with similar interest patterns. Jumpstart your career and learn about yourself, careers, and where you fit within the fastest and highest paying careers projected for the next decade.

Money Management Break-Out Session (Room G4)

Sessions: 9:40, 10:10, 10:40, 11:10 

Through the use of this interactive game, small groups of participants work together to choose which budget category cards they will use to develop a budget. Each group is given a packet of play money at one of three income levels. The group then develops a monthly spending and saving plan. They learn that job choices and income influence lifestyles, the difference between needs and wants, the types of expenses that they will encounter, and how values determine their spending habits.

Business Etiquette Break-Out Session: (Room MP3)

Sessions: 9:40, 10:10, 10:40, 11:10, 1:30, 2:10 

WorkSource will present the break-out session Business Etiquette which is designed to introduce job readiness and employability skills to increase awareness of the types of attitudes, skills and behaviors needed for success at work.

Online Job Search/Job Applications Break-Out Session: (Room G1)

Sessions: 9:40, 10:10, 10:40, 11:10 

WorkSource will present the break-out session Online Job Search /Completing a Job Application. Step by step instructions will be presented on how to search for employment using the Employ Florida Marketplace data bank. Key tips about completing a job application will also be introduced.

Interviewing Skills/Mock Interviews: (Room MP1)

Sessions: 9:40, 10:10, 10:40, 11:10, 1:30, 2:10

The break out session for Interviewing Skills/Mock Interviews will be conducted like a real employment interview. The mock interview is designed to increase the participants interviewing skills and assist with decreasing the anxiety known to precede an interview. The participant will become familiar with some of the questions an employee might ask during an interview.

The facilitator will be the interviewer representing the employer. One or two participants will be asked to volunteer and act as interviewees. The interviewer will ask the interviewee standard questions expected to be asked by most employers. After the mock interview, the interviewer will provide the interviewee with constructive feedback on their performance during the interview and how they can improve the performance.