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Visually Impaired - South Dakota Developmental Center
National Disability Employment
Awareness Month (NDEAM)
U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy
Click here to view the South Dakota Executive Proclamation
Click here for text version of the Executive Proclamation
Click on the location below to view an overview of NDEAM activities scheduled in South Dakota
- Aberdeen
- Brookings
- Eagle Butte
- Madison
- Milbank
- Mitchell
- Rapid City
- Sioux Falls
- The Business Leadership Network
- Sisseton
- Watertown
- Yankton
Aberdeen:
The annual Mayor’s Awards Luncheon will be held on Thursday, October 23rd from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm at the Aberdeen Ramada Convention Center. The luncheon will be twofold: it will honor area employers and employees with disabilities and offer training sponsored by the Aberdeen Area Human Resource Association. Don Rounds will be the keynote speaker for the luncheon.
The Divisions of Rehabilitation Services and Service to the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Aberdeen Employer Resource Network are sponsoring this event.
An awards luncheon will be held in conjunction with the Mayor’s Committee and Brookings Area Human Resource Association (BAHRA) on October 8th at 11:30 AM - at the Swiftel Center.
- The mayor will present awards to honor individuals with disabilities and area employers.
- Linda Mueller, parent of an individual with a disability, will be the keynote speaker.
- Provider and agency booths will be set up.
- And, table tents will display both individuals with disabilities who have been successful in employment and individuals who are looking for employment.
The Oun’iyekiyapi Vocational Rehabilitation Services (OVRS) program will be having an open house on Thursday, October 23rd. The event will include:
Opening remarks by invited guests
A meal with refreshments
An opportunity to meet the OVRS staff and obtain information about the program.
An awards luncheon will be held on October 9th from 12:00 (noon) to 1:00 pm at Nicky’s. Pastor Keith Bundy will be the Master of Ceremonies for the event. Employers from the surrounding area will be recognized for hiring individuals with disabilities as well as recognizing employees with disabilities. Invitations will be extended to the local radio and newspaper outlets (Madison Daily Leader and KJAM).
A gathering will be hosted on October 7th at 5:30 PM at the Community Event Center. Individuals with disabilities who are participating in a cooking class offered through Lifequest will prepare an evening meal and dessert. Dan Rounds, Freedom to Work Project, will be the guest speaker.
The evening will also comprise of recognition of award recipients. This event will promote community outreach and bring greater awareness of employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
The annual Cal Schultz awards luncheon will be held on October 23rd at 12:00 (noon) at the County Fair Banquet Hall. The awards luncheon will recognize area businesses for employing people with disabilities and employees with disabilities. An invitation will be extended to Tim Johnson (or a representative from his office) to speak.
This event is being held in conjunction with the Fall Conference (October 14-16) in Rapid City at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel.
The conference speakers and topics will include: Dr. Suzanne Gosden Kitchen, Job Accommodations Network, presenting on “Hidden Disabilities and the Work Place” and Deb Russell, Walgreen Co., presenting on hiring people with disabilities.
The luncheon scheduled on October 15th will feature Rapid City’s mayor and he will address “reasonable accommodations in the workplace”. This event is a combined work effort of:
- SD RehabACTion
- Freedom to Work Project
- Mayor’s Committee on Persons with Disabilities
- Western Resources for disABLED Independence
- CSD
- Division of Rehabilitation Services
- Division of Service to the Blind and Visually Impaired
- Black Hills Workshop
- Behavior Management Systems
- Department of Labor
- Board of Vocational Rehabilitation
- Black Hills Society for Human Resource Management.
The Sioux Falls NDEAM Committee will attend and host a booth at the Southeast Society of Human Resource Managers and SD Safety Council Fall Conference on Tuesday, October 14th at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. The Committee will sponsor an afternoon break. Information which will be handed out will include:
- Disability Employment 101 Workbooks
- Brochures
- ADA Resource Directories
- Disability Etiquette brochures
- Contact information for the Division of Rehabilitation Services
Over 500 attendees are expected.
The Business Leadership Network (BLN)
The BLN will be hosting the Symon Awards on October 14 at the Sioux Falls Holiday Inn City Centre from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm.
The Symon Awards is the greater Sioux Falls area’s premier showcase for best business practices in developing a diverse workforce and recognizing the talents and skills that employees with disabilities contribute to the Sioux Falls business community.
Deb Russell, Manager of Outreach and Employee Services, Walgreen Company will be sharing Walgreen’s groundbreaking program for developing a talented workforce in a competitive labor market.
An employer appreciation supper/banquet will be held at the Buffalo Lake Restaurant on October 20th at 6:00 pm.
Awards will be presented to outstanding employers from the area as well as outstanding employees with disabilities.
The keynote presenter is to be determined.
This event is co-sponsored by:
- The Transition Liaison Project
- Sisseton High School
- The Board of Vocational Rehabilitation
- The Division of Rehabilitation Services
An awards luncheon will be hosted on October 21st at 11:45 AM at Past Times.
Area businesses and employees with disabilities will be honored. The mayor of Watertown will present the awards, which will then be nominated for the annual Governor’s Awards.
Also, three individuals with disabilities will share their stories about how employment has enriched their lives and how vocational rehabilitation was involved.
The Chamber Mixer will be hosted on October 7th at Minerva’s Restaurant from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. Yankton’s mayor will provide a keynote address outlining the theme of NDEAM and he will present awards to the Yankton employee and employer of the year.
In addition, two representatives of the NDEAM Committee are scheduled to participate on the morning radio show (KYNT 1450 AM) on October 1st at 7:30 am; and a presentation will be made at the local chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management during their October meeting.
