October Named Disability Employment Awareness Month

  • Monday, October 3, 2011

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.

“Profit by Investing in Workers with Disabilities” is the theme of the 2011 National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The theme calls attention to a potentially untapped personnel resource in Tennessee and across the country – persons with disabilities.

“I am honored to announce October as ‘Disability Employment Awareness Month’ in Tennessee and highlight the capabilities of those with disabilities. Every Tennessean can be a key contributor to our workforce,” Gov. Haslam said.



The Division of Rehabilitation Services within the Department of Human Services 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 2010-11.

“At DHS, we work with and proudly serve many individuals living with disabilities across the state. Whether their disability can be seen, or not, their contributions should not be overlooked,” said DHS Commissioner Dr. Raquel Hatter. “Employers who recruit qualified employees with disabilities often discover a committed workforce of individuals who motivate and educate others by simple day-to-day interaction.”

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, visit http://www.tn.gov/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

Oct. 4
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

Oct. 5
Regional Workforce Employer Outreach Committee(WEOC) and Chamber Forum Let’s Do Lunch from Noon to 1 p.m.
Contact: Teresa Smith (423) 434-6613

TN Rehabilitation Center
at Elizabethton
407 Cherokee Park Drive
Elizabethton, TN

Oct. 13
Disability Awareness Summit held by The City of Memphis and the Memphis Advisory Council for Citizens with Disabilities from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Contact: Christina Clift (901) 726-6404 ext. 108
Christ United Methodist Church
4488 Poplar Avenue
Memphis, TN

Oct. 15
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: Carol Martin (423) 634-6725
Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park
301 North Holtzclaw Avenue
Chattanooga, TN

Oct. 15
TN Business Leadership Network Night for Disability Awareness Month with the Nashville Predators and New Jersey Devils Game at 7 p.m.
Contact: Cathy Houser (615) 741-1606 ext. 121
Bridgestone Arena
501 Broadway
Nashville, TN

Oct. 17
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

Oct. 18
Chamber of Commerce Disabilities Awareness Coffee at 9 a.m.
Contact: Teresa A. Lawson (931) 685-5017
TN Rehabilitation Center at Shelbyville
1618 Railroad Avenue
Shelbyville, TN

Oct. 19
Disability Mentoring Day
Contact: Trish Farmer (615) 313-4907

Statewide

Oct. 19
Disability Employment Awareness Month Proclamation and Community Reception at
8 a.m.
Contact: Deborah Quillen (865) 981-2382

TN Rehabilitation Center
at Maryville
Blount County Industrial
Park
1627 Percheron Avenue
Maryville, TN




October 20
Job Fair sponsored by Montgomery County Career Center at 10 a.m.
Contact: Virginia Talley (931) 648-5560
TN Rehabilitation Center
of Clarksville
1575 Corporate Parkway
Boulevard
Clarksville, TN




October 20
Area Recognition Awards Luncheon by Southeast Placement Consortium from
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Contact: Carol Martin (423) 634-6725
Chattanooga Convention
& Trade Center
One Carter Plaza
Chattanooga, TN




October 21
Disability Employment Awareness Month
Open House from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Contact: Pam Furlong (615) 898-8088
TN Rehabilitation Center at Murfreesboro
1132 Haley Road
Murfreesboro, TN







October 25
Area Recognition Awards Luncheon at
11:30 a.m. at TN Rehabilitation Center of Dyersburg
Contact: Ronda Baker (731) 286-8315
TN Rehabilitation Center of Dyersburg
1365 Morgan Road
Dyersburg, TN





October 25
Nashville Area Employment Consortium and TN Business Leadership Network Recognition Awards Luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Contact: Marci Hess (615) 948-3464

Airport Marriott Hotel
600 Marriott Drive
Nashville, TN





October 26
Disability Employment Awareness Month Community Open House with TN Department of Labor Career Coach from 9 a.m. to Noon
Contact: Linda Suddarth (615) 451-5826
TN Rehabilitation Center
at Gallatin
1019 Union School Road
Gallatin, TN




October 26
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) 594-6720 ext. 1105

Knoxville Downtown
Hilton Hotel
501 Church Avenue
Knoxville, TN




October 27

Disability Employment Awareness Month Community Open House from 12:30 p.m. to
3 p.m.
Contact: Sharon Logan (931) 380-2550 ext. 112
TN Rehabilitation Center
at Columbia
206 Wayne Street
Columbia, TN




October 27

Disability Employment Awareness Month Community Open House from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Contact: Gale Demick (615) 459-6811 ext. 246
TN Rehabilitation Center
at Smyrna
460 Ninth Avenue
Smyrna, TN

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