Miami to Host Sixth Annual Bridges to Employment Conference June 13-15

Bridges to Employment is the premiere event on pathways to vocational attainment for Latinos with disabilities in the United States. The conference brings together recruiters, occupational experts and jobseekers from around the country to share best practices and exchange information to increase employment opportunities for disabled Latinos. Presented by Proyecto Visión, this year’s employment conference and training will take place June 13-15 in Miami, Florida at the Radisson Miami Hotel.

Program, Speakers, Attendees
Workshops and roundtables will be led by representatives from Latino and disability advocacy organizations, employers and professional Latinos who have disabilities. Training sessions will provide information about vocational training opportunities and regional job openings. Other topics include resume writing; interview preparation; recruiting, retention and promotion; asset-building programs; benefits and transitions to employment; current legislation and advocacy, and providing culturally competent services. Sessions will be conducted with simultaneous translation into English or Spanish.

Each year, the Bridges conference attracts human resource professionals, recruiters, entrepreneurs, diversity managers, Latino and disability service providers, and disabled Latino jobseekers and their family members from around the country. The Miami event will build on the results of Bridges conferences held in San Antonio, TX (2006), Raleigh, NC (2005), Chicago, IL (2004), New York, NY (2003) and Anaheim, CA (2002).

Schedule
The conference begins on the afternoon of June 13 with two special presentations followed by an evening meet-and-greet reception. A full day of workshops and roundtables is scheduled for June 14, interspersed with catered networking breaks. June 15 will offer additional training sessions, concluding with the plenary luncheon at 2:00 p.m. Throughout the conference, attendees will have access to assistive technology experts to experiment with adaptive software and devices for use in the workplace.

Conference Specifics
The $150 fee includes the welcome reception, continental breakfasts, all conference sessions and materials, and the closing luncheon. Scholarships are available for unemployed or low-income Latinos with disabilities to cover the registration fee. Scholarship awards are based on financial need and strength of the application. Call (866) 367-5361 toll-free (no longer exists) for scholarship information, or visit www.projectvision.net to register to attend and/or apply for a scholarship online.

The conference will take place at the Radisson Miami Hotel. The Radisson is offering conference attendees a special accommodation rate of $107 per night for reservations made before May 11. Call (305) 374-0000 or (800) 333-3333 to reserve a room, mentioning you are with Project Vision’s Bridges to Employment conference.

Sponsors
Proyecto Visión is the first National Technical Assistance Center for Latinos with Disabilities living in the United States. Proyecto Visión connects Latinos with disabilities to jobs, training and technology by providing training, capacity-building support and links to employers and service providers. Proyecto Visión is funded by the Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration. See more details at the project’s website: www.projectvision.net

Proyecto Visión is based at the World Institute on Disability (WID) in Oakland, CA. WID is a nonprofit research, public policy and advocacy center dedicated to promoting independence and societal inclusion of people with disabilities. WID is known for high quality research and public education on a wide range of issues. The Board of Directors and staff, over half of whom are people with disabilities, are respected national leaders in the disability field as well as in industry, government and social services. For further information, go to www.wid.org.

Additional support for the Conference was made possible with a generous contribution from AT&T, the presenting sponsor of this year’s Bridges to Employment conference.

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