Welcome to MentorAbility (Updated schedule coming soon)

Getting started in the right direction can be challenging. MentorABILITY is an exciting career development initiative for young people with disabilities.  Local business partners and employers volunteer as mentors to provide a variety of career guidance, exploration and internship opportunities to give job seekers the insights, experiences and connections they need to get ahead.   

It's all about encouraging people to realize their dreams, and enabling employers to help grow the talent that their businesses need to succeed in today's competitive world.

The CBLN has partnered with the Laramie County School District #1 and East High School again this school year to provide Special Education students "World of Work" Classes. 

  "World of Work" Classes:

• Classes are designed to provide students training to transition in to the World of Work upon leaving High School.  By presenting opportunities of ‘real-world' experience with local business partners and employers, the students are better able to understand and manage the challenges that face them when searching for employment.  Each student's employability is maximized through exercises and workshops, designed to be interesting and useful, while encouraging them to stay in school to receive the best education prior to joining the work force.

  Additional Benefits:

• Job Shadowing/Mentoring Days: Each student enrolled in the World of Work program will be partnered with an individual mentor(s) -- a working professional who shares their career interest area. The student will have real-life experience during the year of experiencing what it is like to work at one or two careers which interest them.
• Career Fair/Expo:  The annual CBLN Career Fair & Expo will take place in May 2009. Youth are encouraged to attend the Career Fair & Expo with résumé's in hand, where they will have the opportunity to apply for summer, part-time or full-time employment, discuss employment opportunities with participating businesses, motivational speakers, and lifestyle topics.
• Students are encouraged to develop a résumé' to be prepared to apply for employment whenever an employment opportunity should come up.

MentorAbility Program Classes

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  • Place:  East High,  Band Room     
  • Introductions, forms and releases, overview of the MentorAbility "World of Work" Career Development Classes
  • Class: Using Personality to acquire a job.
  • Speakers: Marla Lewis & Lynn Kirkbride

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• • Place: East High        
  • Class: Personal Networking/Choosing your Career.  
  • Speakers: Marla, Lynn and Local Employers & Business Partners

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  • Place:  East High 
  • Class: Disclosure/Reasonable Accommodation/Self Advocacy.  
  • Speakers: Marla & Lynn

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• • Place: East High   
  • Class: Employer Expectations/Dress for Success/ Conflict Resolution
  • Speakers: Marla, Lynn, Dave Urquidez, Connie Flowers, Rich Wiederspahn

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  • Place: East High    
  • Class: Mock Interviews  
  • Speakers: Marla, Lynn, Local Employers &  Business partners

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MentorABILITY Philosophy

  All people are created equally and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.  We all have something worthwhile to contribute to this world.  It is our job to discover what that is and how we can make that happen.

 MentorAbility Program Ground Rules

 •1.     This class should be treated as though it was a job

•2.     We will be polite and respectful of MentorABILITY staff, employer presenters, teachers and fellow students. (Presenters are taking time out of their busy work schedules to be with you!)

•3.     We will sit at the front of the room and engage in the proceedings.

•4.       The teachers will stay with their classes and are responsible for the supervision of their own students.

•5.     There will be a 5 minute break so there will be no other time that you may leave the classroom.

•6.     You will sign- in for each class.

•7.     You will fill out an evaluation for each WOW class.

•8.     Permission slips must be filled out prior to events that take place out of the classroom.

For more information, sponsorship opportunities or to volunteer your time,  please contact CBLN Director, Marla Lewis at 307-631-8012 or wbln@vcn.com.