The sixth annual occurrence of the popular Hope-Mandeville Disability Careers Expo took place at Hope School, Westcliff, Johannesburg, on 19 & 20 April 2017. A joint venture by Hope School and Mandeville Disability Swimming, the annual event’s focus is to help launch youngsters with disabilities into careers that are right for them [in jobs, learnerships or bursaries] and in so doing to deliver a service to employers’ HR departments as well. The Expo bridges the gap between school leavers with disabilities and employers. Learners are encouraged to explore the different opportunities that are available to them within their respective physical and functional constraints. Five hundred and sixty-eight learners, covering all the main disability types [physical, hearing, vision impairment and learning challenges] visited the Expo over the two days. Of these, two hundred and thirty-nine will write Matric at the end of 2017 and come into the job/bursary market immediately thereafter.Thirty-five companies presented their employment opportunities and described how the learners could grow and develop within their respective organisations. Several breakaway sessions, where celebrities and guest speakers addressed both the exhibitors and the learners on appropriate and beneficial topics, were well attended during the course of the Expo.
Contacts: Paddy Slattery: Cell: 082 8076 948 email: pvslattery@gmail.com, Charmaine de Bruin: Cell: 082 3031 655 email: Charmaine.ot@gmail.com
