Pride Mobility Products Corp, and Quantum Rehab, Exeter, Pa, recently celebrated Disability Mentoring Day by hosting 10 students with disabilities and providing them with mentoring by careeer professionals in various fields who discussed job responsibilities, knowledge, and skills needed for specific vocations.
The special day is designed to bring students and job seekers with disabilities into the workplace through hands-on career exploration, on-site job shadowing, and ongoing mentoring–leading to internship and employment opportunities.
Participants were welcomed with opening remarks from Scott Meuser, chairman and CEO, and then met with professionals to learn typical job responsibilities and knowledge and skills needed for a specific vocation. Careers in research and development, marketing, education, reimbursement, government affairs, sales, and technical service were highlighted.
“As with all young people, it’s important that we foster the fullest potentials of those with disabilities toward higher education and rewarding career paths,” said Mark E. Smith, Pride Consumer Research manager. “For many young people with disabilities, their potentials truly are limitless, and by increasing their awareness of career possibilities through such events as Disability Mentoring Day, we ideally not only inspire their outlooks, but place them on an ultimate path that will impact the lives of many through great careers.”
Attendees also included Luzerne Intermediate Unit 18 specialists and learning support teachers, and observers from Marywood University’s Career Services Department.
Justin Warman, a participant from GAR Junior/Senior High School, seemed impressed by the number of career options available at Pride. “There are a lot of things I like about Pride, but I think the major thing is the company is so diverse,” Warman said. “You can do so many things in just one company.”
Elaine Coburn, Luzerne Intermediate Unit 18 transition specialist, said she and her colleagues were extremely impressed with Pride’s product innovations and professional atmosphere. “The teachers and students were buzzing about the experience on the way home,” Coburn said. “Everyone had a very enjoyable and enlightening day. We look forward to working with Pride again in the future.”
Hosted by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the largest national cross-disability membership organization in the United States, DMD connects nearly 20,000 job seekers with disabilities with thousands of employers in more than 300 locations in every US state and territory, and in more than 24 countries worldwide each year.
Pride Mobility is a leading designer and manufacturer of mobility products. Quantum Rehab, a division of Pride Mobility, manufactures complex rehab solutions.
[Source: Pride Mobility]
