Disability expo designed to educate

By Derek Gean, Leonard WoodOctober 1, 2015

Disability expo designed to educate
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Oct. 1, 2015) -- The Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood is scheduled to host a National Disability Awareness Month Expo from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday at Nutter Field House.

According to Robert Hard, Equal Employment Opportunity intern, the event is an opportunity to raise awareness of the challenges and barriers people with disabilities encounter and to inform the general public about the installation's disability program.

Several organizations, including Army Community Service, the installation safety office, educational institutions and more, are scheduled to showcase services and products that can enhance independent living for persons with disabilities. There will be providers on hand to provide free hearing tests, and there will be experts available to help with resume writing, job application completion and other employment concerns.

Kathlene Aydt, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Leonard Wood deputy garrison commander, is scheduled to serve as the guest speaker at the event.

The theme for the program is "My Disability is Part of Who I Am," and organizers hope community members will see that disabled individuals can work and have successful lives.

"I (hope) attendees understand what a disability is, the challenges employees face, and dispel the stigma of how a disability can affect employees," Hard said. He said there are many resources available to disabled individuals.

"Disability is only one part of the total individual in the work force here at Fort Leonard Wood," Hard said. He said if people learn anything from the event, he hopes they realize that someday they may require additional assistance and resources.

"I see this event benefiting the Fort Leonard Wood community by providing awareness, which will lead to a greater understanding of how everyone has talent regardless of their ability and how this diversity is key to readiness and mission accomplishment," Hard said. "(The expo should) provide everyone with the resources to unleash this talent by showing how employees can easily overcome their workplace barrier."

For more information, contact EEO at 573.596.0131, ext. 63353.

Related Links:

Fort Leonard Wood GUIDON newspaper

Fort Leonard Wood website