Disability Employment Expo Brings Together Job Seekers and Employers

WHAT: An AbilityLinks Consortium Employment Expo will bring together more than 200 job seekers with disabilities, 30 employers, and area service providers for a full day of education, mock interviews

At 9 a.m., J. Randolph Lewis, senior vice president of Distribution and Logistics, Walgreens Co., will deliver the keynote address. Lewis has been a staunch advocate for persons with disabilities. He was instrumental in helping establish a network of regional distribution centers where disabled employees are mainstreamed into the workforce.

WHY:

A strong lineup of speakers and a discussion-oriented format will allow attendees to go beyond the cliches that often surround discussion of diversity in the workplace, according to Steven Fry, C.O.D. disability career specialist. "Diversity in the workplace is not just gender and ethnicity," he said. "It also includes persons with disabilities. Approximately 20 percent of the population is comprised of individuals with disabilities. This dedicated workforce represents a labor market often overlooked due to disability myths and stereotypes that downplay the wide range of skills that these 50 million Americans have."

WHEN:
Thursday, March 20, from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

WHO:

The employment expo is sponsored by AbilityLinks and Marianjoy in partnership with the College of DuPage and hosted by Doubletree.

WHERE:

The Doubletree Guest Suites in Downers Grove, on Butterfield Road just west of 355.

The AbilityLinks consortium of businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations was established in 2001 by Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The award-winning website - http://www.abilitylinks.org/ -- brings together business and job candidates with disabilities. The AbilityLinks staff provides ongoing support to website users including job seekers, companies, and schools and non-profit organizations that assist disabled individuals with preparing for and finding work.

CONTACT: Denise LeBloch of Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, +1-630-909-7104 (office), +1-630-956-4535 (cell), dlebloch@marianjoy.org

/PRNewswire-USNewswire - March 18/

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Source: Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital

Web Site: http://www.abilitylinks.org/

2008-03-18 17:42:40 0315654 PRNEWSWIRE