October Named Disability Employment Awareness Month
Events Across the State Highlight Abilities of People With Disabilities
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam is designating October as Disability Employment Awareness Month to generate awareness about the talents and abilities of Tennessee citizens with disabilities.
“A Strong Workforce is an Inclusive Workforce: What Can YOU Do?” is the theme of the 2012 National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The theme calls attention to a potentially untapped personnel resource in Tennessee and across the country – persons with disabilities.
“Unemployment among persons with disabilities is a challenge that affects all of our citizens,” Haslam said. “By making a conscious effort, each of us can make a difference.”
The Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) within the Department of Human Services (DHS) provides rehabilitation services to Tennesseans with disabilities. A number of individuals with the most significant disabilities, such as quadriplegia, blindness and traumatic brain injuries, have found employment after completing rehabilitation programs through DHS and community partners during the fiscal year 2011-12.
“Businesses that actively recruit qualified employees with disabilities often discover untapped skills and talents. As a group often overlooked, persons with disabilities are committed and motivated employees,” said DHS Commissioner Raquel Hatter. “They also contribute valuable consumer perspectives regarding what the disability market needs and desires.”
Vocational rehabilitation offices across the state as well as the seventeen Tennessee Rehabilitation Centers located in rural communities and the residential comprehensive Tennessee Rehabilitation Center in Smyrna provide numerous services to clients, including vocational training, physical or occupational therapy and transitional life skills. For more information on the TRCs across Tennessee, please, visit http://www.state.tn.us/humanserv/rehab/vrs.html .
DHS staff members are working with businesses and agencies across Tennessee on activities recognizing Disability Employment Awareness Month. Attached is a partial list of scheduled events.
DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH SCHEDULE
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October 2 | Joint City and County signing of Proclamation for Disability Employment Awareness Month at 9 a.m. Contact: Lisa Kinkade (731) 423-5620 ext. 328 | Jackson City Hall 101 East Main Street Jackson, TN |
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October 3 | Disability Employment Awareness Month Community Open House from 7a.m. to 10a.m. Contact: Valerie Caldwell-Buford (615)790-5509 | TN Rehabilitation Center at Franklin 1405 A Brookwood Ave Franklin, TN |
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October 6 | Go! Fest Sponsored by the City of Chattanooga area industry and agencies strives to eliminate barriers for persons with disabilities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Contact: Phillip Stevens (423) 425-7800 | Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park 301 North Holtzclaw Avenue Chattanooga, TN |
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October 9 | Fourth Annual Forum for Employers & Business Owners sponsored by Anderson County Chamber of Commerce &Emory Valley Center from 8 a.m.to Noon Contact: Anderson County Chamber of Commerce to RSVP (865) 457-2559 | Pollard Technology Conference Center 210 Badger Avenue Oak Ridge, TN |
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October 10 | Disability Employment Awareness Month Community Open House & TN Career Coach from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact: Kim Hasty (931) 962-1162 | TN Rehabilitation Center at Winchester 135 Baxter Lane Winchester, TN |
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October 10 | Greene County Personnel Association/Workforce Employer Outreach Committee(WEOC) Disability Month Symposium at Noon Contact: C-Ann Chapman (423) 534-1760 | General Morgan Inn 111 N Main Street Greeneville, TN |
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October 11 | Abilities Expo from 9 a.m. to 2p.m. Contact: Linda Baharloo (615) 459-6811 | TN Rehabilitation Center at Smyrna 460 Ninth Avenue Smyrna, TN |
October 12
| Disability Employment Awareness Month Community Open House/Resource Fair From 9 a.m. to 1p.m. Contact: Virginia Talley (931) 648-5560
| TN Rehabilitation Center at Clarksville 1575 Corporate Parkway Boulevard Clarksville, TN |
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October 16 | West TN Society for Human Resource Management Gaining Understanding in Disability Empowerment Conference from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Contact: Lisa Kinkade (731) 423-5620 ext 328
| Union University Carl Grant Event Center 1050 Union University Drive Jackson, TN |
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October 17 | Disability Employment Awareness Month Community Open House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact: Delwyn Smith (423) 478-0332
| TN Rehabilitation Center at Cleveland 3069 Overlook Drive Suite B Cleveland, TN |
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October 17 | Disability Awareness Fair from 8a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact: Amy Howell (931) 526-4721 ext 113 | TN Rehabilitation Center at Cookeville 955 East 20th Street Cookeville, TN
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October 17 | Career & Community Resource Fair From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Contact: Bradley Moss (731) 884-2600 | TN Rehabilitation Center at Union City 1419 North Morgan Ext. Union City, TN
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October 17 | Disability Mentoring Day Contact: Trish Farmer (615) 313-4907 | Statewide |
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October 18 | Ability Focus Job Fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact: Virginia Talley (931) 648-5560 | TN Rehabilitation Center at Clarksville 1575 Corporate Parkway Boulevard Clarksville, TN
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October 18 | Northeast TN Workforce Investment Board Annual Luncheon Meeting Let’s Do Lunch at Noon Contact: Teresa Smith (423) 434-6613 | Carnegie Hotel 1216 West State of Franklin Johnson City, TN
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October 22 | Knoxville Area Employment Consortium and Knoxville Business Advisory Council Disability Employment Awareness Breakfast Program from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Contact: Tina Jones (865) 594-6060 ext 1105 | Knoxville Downtown Hilton Hotel 501 Church Avenue Knoxville, TN
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October 23 | Area Recognition Awards Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Contact: Ronda Baker (731) 286-8315 | TN Rehabilitation Center At Dyersburg 1365 Morgan Road Dyersburg, TN |
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October 23 | Disability Employment Awareness Month Community Open House with Career Coach From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Contact: Linda Suddarth (615) 451-5826 | TN Rehabilitation Center at Gallatin 1019 Union School Road Gallatin, TN |
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October 23 | Paris/Henry County Chamber of Commerce Small Business Expo from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact: Chamber of Commerce (731) 642-3431 | Henry County Fairgrounds Building 817 Royal Oak Drive Paris, TN
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October 25 | Regional Workforce Employer Outreach Committee (WEOC) and Chamber Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Contact: Teresa Smith (423) 434-6613 | TN Rehabilitation Center at Elizabethton 407 Cherokee Park Drive Elizabethton, TN |
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October 25 | Mayor’s Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities Recognition Awards at 5:30 p.m. Contact: Bridget Galvin (615) 862-6034 | Nashville Farmer’s Market 900 Rosa Parks Boulevard Nashville, TN |
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October 26 | Disability Employment Awareness Month Community Open House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact: Pam Furlong (615) 898-8088 | TN Rehabilitation Center at Murfreesboro 1132 Haley Road Murfreesboro, TN |
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October 31
| Area Recognition Awards Luncheon by Southeast Placement Consortium from 11:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Contact: Carol Martin at cmartin6@utk.edu
| Chattanooga Convention & Trade Center One Carter Plaza Chattanooga, TN |
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October 31
| Disability Employment Awareness Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact: Deborah Quillen (865) 981-2382 | TN Rehabilitation Center at Maryville 1749 Triangle Park Drive Maryville, TN
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