Disability Mentoring Day

Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) is a large-scale national effort coordinated by AAPD to promote career development for students and job-seekers with disabilities through hands-on career exploration and ongoing mentoring relationships.

While DMD has been and continues to be officially launched the third Wednesday of each October during National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), the foundation of the program has expanded from a one-day event to a year-round initiative across the country.

DMD was founded in 1999 through a White House initiative with less than three-dozen students participating to increase the awareness of NDEAM. Since that event, DMD has springboarded from a one day event for a small group of students to an extensive national mentoring program for young professionals with disabilities across the United States, territories, and abroad.

The growth of DMD is made possible by the unwavering work of DMD Coordinators across the country who volunteer their time to host and manage the logistical requirements for local and regional programs. These events produce life changing results for mentees, such as full time employment and internship opportunities. AAPD continues to increase the reach of DMD through growing its network of DMD coordinators. If you or anyone you know may be interested or want additional information on becoming a DMD coordinator, please email us at DMD@aapd.com.

Get Involved

Disability Mentoring Day Youth Transitions Pipeline

The Disability Mentoring Day Youth Transitions Pipeline worked with three centers for independent living in 2016-2017 to increase positive employment outcomes for youth with disabilities as they transitioned out of high school. The program resulted in a Toolkit that captured best practices, common challenges, and resources related to youth transition. Learn more about the Pipeline and access the Toolkit.

2018 Disability Mentoring Day Events

DMD Coordinators

DMD Coordinators are the volunteers that make Disability Mentoring Day possible each year all around the country. Coordinators are responsible for setting up DMD events in their community and making connections between students with disabilities, job seekers with disabilities, high schools, colleges and universities, local/state disability organizations, and businesses. Events take many different shapes and forms around the country depending on the volunteer coordinator and the needs of the local community, but include job shadowing, one-on-one mentoring, panel discussions, professional development workshops, informational interviews, and more. We’ve received countless stories from DMD coordinators on the profound difference this one day can have for young people with disabilities, including leading to their first paid internship or job.

If you are interested in volunteering as a Disability Mentoring Day Coordinator please complete the online application form below – after completing the form, you will be emailed the 2018 Disability Mentoring Day Toolkit with additional information on organizing an event, best practices, common challenges, and sample forms. If you have any questions please email dmd@aapd.com.

Submit an application to become a DMD Coordinator
View local DMD events
Submit a information about a DMD event
Submit a report after hosting a DMD event
2017 DMD Coordinator Organizing Call (audio recording | CART transcript)

Mentors and Mentees

AAPD has an extensive list of active DMD coordinators across the country that we can share with potential participants interested in becoming a DMD mentee or mentor as well as businesses and organizations looking to help host and/or sponsor a DMD. If interested, please email us at DMD@aapd.com.

Businesses and Organizations

Whether it’s through serving as sponsors, event hosts, or mentors, corporations, local businesses, government agencies, and other organizations have been the driving force for moving the success of DMD forward. To learn more about the opportunities to have your organization get involved with DMD in a local community, please email us at DMD@aapd.com.