[Archived] Alexandria Holds Disability Mentoring Day for Local T. C. Williams and St. Coletta's School Students

City Press Release


	City of Alexandria, Virginia Office of the City Manager Alexandria City Hall 301 King Street, Suite 3500 Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3211 www.alexandriava.gov Telephone: 703.838.4300 Fax : 703.838.6343

For Immediate Release
September 22, 2004
PIO 226-04/rdo

Alexandria Holds Disability Mentoring Day
for Local T.C. Williams and St. Coletta’s School Students

The City of Alexandria will recognize National Disability Employment Awareness Month with a Mentoring Day for disabled students on Wednesday, Oct. 20, from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. Students will work with various City departments depending on their career interests.

The event will provide students who have a disability with an opportunity to see a variety of career choices available to them in local government. Students will be assigned to work with a City staff member for part of the day. Students participating in the event attend T.C. Williams High School and St. Coletta’s School in Alexandria.

Congress enacted a law in 1945 declaring the first week in October of each year as National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week as a way to educate the public about issues involving disability and employment. Congress removed the word “physically” to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to National Disability Employment Awareness Month in 1988.

Disability Mentoring Day originally began as National Disability Mentoring Day in 1999 as a program to recognize National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The word “national” was dropped from the title because of the program’s considerable international participation. The program was patterned after school-to-work activities.

For more information, contact Kathleen Schramm at 703.838.4424.

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