To: CITY EDITORS

Contact: Rebecca Panoff, Communications Manager, AAPD, Office: +1-202-508-3783, RPanoff@aapd.com; or Janet Fiore, CEO, The Sierra Group, Inc., Office: +1-610-291-8135, janet.fiore@thesierragroup.com

Underutilized workforce learn about different careers, gain foothold into industries

*Interviews with program participants, Rohm and Haas Office of Diversity and Local Coordinators will be available

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For many students with disabilities and job-seekers nationwide, AAPD's Disability Mentoring Day Program is the go-to source to help them learn about careers and build critical mentoring relationships.

AAPD, the largest cross-disability membership organization in the U.S., is once again spearheading National Disability Mentoring Day 2008. In Philadelphia, regional coordinators from The Sierra Group and regional hosts at Rohm & Haas are celebrating on Thurs. Oct. 16th with a day-long event.

People with disabilities are historically underemployed in huge numbers, and this event bridges the divide between employers, letting employers form relationships with potential employees and exposing people with disabilities to a wide range of career options. Disability Mentoring Day is a large-scale effort of AAPD that promotes career development for nearly 20,000 job-seekers with disabilities nationwide. Volunteer local coordinators across the country organize mentoring or on-site job shadowing opportunities.

"Rohm and Haas is eager to participate in this program which falls in line with our Diversity program. People often unintentionally exclude persons managing visible and not so visible disabilities from the Diversity radar, when in fact you may be working with someone who benefits from specialized resources. A diverse workforce is inclusive of people with varying professional backgrounds, sex, race, ethnicity, and persons managing disabilities," Stacey Adams, Director of Global Diversity, Rohm and Haas, said.

The agenda for the day at host site Rohm and Haas Corporate headquarters, 100 Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2399, will include the following:

9:00 am

Disability Networking Meet & Greet Breakfast with Mentees and Mentors

9:30 am

Introductions by Rohm and Haas and the Sierra Group

10:00 am - 11:30 am

One on One Mentoring Activities and Wrap up

12:00 pm

Assistive Technology Demonstrations

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Disability in a Global Economy Presentation & Discussion with Michael Fiore, Engineer/MBA with The Sierra Group

"When I approached the Office of Diversity at Rohm and Haas about partnering with us to host and provide resources for this event, it took little time for them to respond with an enthusiasm that surpassed my expectations. I am excited about working with them because it's the program attendees who will reap the benefits," local DMD Coordinator Janet Fiore, CEO, The Sierra Group, Inc. said.

For more information about Disability Mentoring Day, visit www.AAPD.com to learn more about the Disability Mentoring Day Program in your state, local DMD Coordinator Janet Fiore, CEO, The Sierra Group, Inc., at 610.291.8135 or by email: janet.fiore@thesierragroup.com.

SOURCE The Sierra Group

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