Students Prepare for Summer Internships

Assistant Commissioner Carolyn Jones of the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities presents to students about summer internships

disabilityworks, the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities, Equip for Equality, the TechWorks Pilot Project Coordinator and others presented at the TechWorks Intern Orientation workshop on April 4th, 2009.

Photo: Assistant Commissioner Carolyn Jones (right center) of the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) presents "Appropriate Workplace Attire" and "Appropriate Workplace Etiquette" to participating students. MOPD Deputy Commissioner Joe Albritton (far left) presented "Disability Awareness" training.

Participants in the workshop were students who have been accepted for internships in IT and other technologies for this summer with businesses and nonprofit organizations in the Chicago Metro area. Topics also addressed included "Hands! Body! Face and Space!" a training on the importance of using nonverbal communications cues such as the sound of the voice, utilizing appropriate space, posture, touch (handshake), eye behaviors or simulated eye behaviors (direct eye contact), gestures, personal appearance and facial expressions during the job interview and at the workplace. In addition, "Disability Awareness," "Interviewing Do's and Don'ts," and "Know Your Rights" were other topics covered. This highly interactive workshop is the next step for the students as they prepare to interview for internship opportunities.

The School-To-Work TechWorks Pilot Project is funded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity through disabilityworks, where MOPD is providing technical support.