Cookeville-Last year nearly three hundred students, volunteers and exhibitors gathered at Hyder-Burks Pavilion for the annual Career Day event hosted by the Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency (UCHRA) in conjunction with the Tennessee Career Center at Cookeville and Training Resource Employment Network for Disability Services (TRENDS).  It was the 5^th year for the annual event which is spearheaded by UCHRA’s Disability Navigator Program.  The Disability Navigator Program works with people who have disabilities by helping them find employment or training opportunities.  With this focus in mind local businesses, services organizations, and educational institutions can set up displays for this purpose.  Students can also find out about programs helping with life skills, such as paying taxes.

Several area high schools participated in the event by bringing students throughout the day. These included Bledsoe County, Clarkrange, Clay County, Cookeville, Cumberland County, Livingston Academy, Pickett County, Stone Memorial, Upperman, Warren County, and York Institute.   Students involved with Warren County Community Connections, Cumberland County Transition Academy and Putnam Independence Program were also in attendance. 

Potential employers can give short lectures about their companies as well as the requirements and expectations of the potential employees.  Among the area businesses having displays last year were: Chartwells Catering, Averitt Express, Algood Walmart, Aid & Assist, TN Army National Guard, and the TN Department of Labor. 

"Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency is proud to be a sponsor of this event. Job opportunities for people with disabilities are one of the greatest needs of Tennessee residents. Career Day promotes and highlights the capabilities of this population," Phyllis Bennett UCHRA stated.

Training Resources Employment Network for Disability Services (TRENDS), the Tennessee Career Center at Cookeville, UCHRA Workforce Investment Act Program, the Social Security Administration, and Internal Revenue Service were a few of the service organizations  having displays for the students. Other organizations present were Pacesetters, the Disability Law and Advocacy Center of TN., Plateau Mental Health Center, Vocational Rehabilitation, Epilepsy Foundation of TN, and the TN Small Business Development Center. Booths and displays were also sponsored by Prospect Inc., TN Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Benefits to Work, TN Division of Intellectual Disabilities  and UT’s Center of Disability and Employment.

Universities and vocational schools from the area also gave students information for continuing education programs. These included Tennessee Technological University, Tennessee Technology Center of Livingston, Tennessee Technology Center Crossville, Lakeside Resort and Educational Complex, University of Tennessee-Knoxville’s Disability Services, Volunteer State-Livingston, Nashville State Community College and TN Rehabilitation Center-Smyrna.

The event not only gives the students information about employment and vocational programs but allows them to ask questions in a relaxed atmosphere less stressful than a job interview. 

Last year’s welcome to the students came from the master of ceremonies, Bill Toye from Pacesetters’.  Toye met with the schools as they arrived for a brief orientation and also presented the students with various door prizes.   UCHRA would like to a send special thanks to Pacesetters, Nestle’, Dollywood, and the Epilepsy Foundation of TN for donating items to the previous event.  “We are very proud of the services we have been able to provide individuals with disabilities through the Tennessee Career Center at Cookeville and our affiliate offices,” states Pat Callahan, UCHRA’s Employment and Training Director.  He added, “This program has assisted 79 individuals who have entered employment and hope to continue to help those who are seeking employment.”

This event is free to any service organization, employer or institute of learning interested in having a booth.  A vendor’s lunch will be provided.  The event is scheduled for Friday, October 1, again at the Hyder-Burkes Pavilion

For information on reserving a booth for this event, contact Cathy Houser, Center on Disability and Employment, 615-741-1606, Randy Wilder, UCHRA, 931-528-1127, the TN Career Center in Cookeville, (931) 520-8733 or email Danielle Cason, wdcason86@yahoo.com