October marks the 75th observance of National Disability Employment Awareness Month to help increase access and opportunity for people with disabilities across society, including in the workplace.
In the United States alone, 42.6 million people have at least one form of disability (see www.DisabilityCompendium.org), meaning people with disabilities make up the largest minority nationwide; yet they are also the most untapped labor market.
In some cities, the reasons are due to increased barriers for a person who has transitioned out of special education and then is stuck with few vocational training services to bridge the gap between high school and the start of a meaningful career.
This leaves a large majority of people with developmental disabilities either unemployed or underemployed despite their strengths, ability, desire, and willingness to work.
UCP WORK, Inc. is a tri-counties nonprofit and service provider for adults with disabilities that helps encourage local employers to recognize the value and talent people with disabilities add to America’s workplaces and economy.
People with disabilities can be employed in the community and work alongside people without disabilities and earn competitive wages. Although it’s true employees with disabilities may need some accommodations in the workplace, they don’t have to be expensive or time-consuming.
To further support UCP WORK Inc’s mission of fostering independence and employment opportunities for the people it serves, the agency has developed a new UCP WORK, Inc. Mentor Alliance program.
The program is a community-based initiative to match business owners, experts and artists with active job seekers who have developmental and physical disabilities, based on their career goals. Local professionals are invited to join the program by volunteering to mentor someone receiving job development services through UCP WORK Inc.
The new program hopes to build rewarding connections while having professionals share vital knowledge and experience of their industry or line of work.
“Our primary goals for the UCP WORK, Inc. Mentor Alliance are helping to foster partnerships within the community, and in doing so, generate meaningful long-term employment for the people we serve so that they can live happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives,” said Jake Lowry, UCP WORK, Inc. job developer.
A monthly commitment in the UCP WORK, Inc. Mentor Alliance program will encourage job seekers with disabilities to network, help establish realistic career expectations, and develop or enhance their existing skills.
“Mentors will not only be serving the community and providing valuable insight to a person with a disability, but they may also identify a really hardworking potential future employee,” Lowry said. “At the very least though, a partner mentor would be helping someone change their life in a positive way.”
UCP WORK, Inc.’s first active mentor in the program, Zach Malek, senior monitoring engineer at LogicMonitor, said: “I am excited to have recently joined the UCP WORK Inc. Mentor Alliance and to be there to encourage an individual with a disability to explore what interests them and how to reach their vocational goals.”
Learn more about the services provided by UCP WORK, Inc., including its Group Supported Employment program, in which UCP WORK, Inc. has partnered with the city of Santa Barbara Waterfront Department for its janitorial services for close to 30 years. Visit http://www.ucpworkinc.org for more informatio.
To sign up or to get answers to questions about UCP WORK, Inc. Mentor Alliance, contact Lowry at jlowry@ucpworkinc.org.