October 2011 | EAPD Press Team FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Breaking through the silo barriers that have encumbered jobseekers with disabilities in the past, the EAPD hosted a Job Fair targeted to people with disabilities and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. The first of its kind in the Coastal Bend, the EAPD Job Fair - 2011, was held at Del Mar College - Center for Economic Development in October 2011 in celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Leveraging the strengths and resources of the community it serves, the EAPD Job Fair - 2011 was produced entirely through in-kind donations, which included public transportation shuttles and accommodations such as large print/Braille, sighted guides and certified American Sign Language Interpreters to guarantee that all attendees had equal access. Job seekers filled-out applications on-site and employers conducted on-the-spot interviews with job applicants in private interviewing rooms on campus. The EAPD Job Fair – 2011 was an outstanding success with over 350 attendees from throughout the Coastal Bend region, most of which were job seekers with disabilities, and 40 private-sector employers present. Moreover, 10% of attendees found employment through participation in the Job Fair. This extraordinary achievement not only advanced employment opportunities for people with disabilities, but served to champion the power and potential of what can be created when organizations work together as a partner in the community.