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POST EMPLOYABILITY RALLY REPORT

October 28, 2010 Arizona State Capital Mall

The 1

st Annual EmployAbility Rally was held at the Arizona State Capital Mall on October 28, 2010. The

purpose of this Rally was to celebrate the transformative power of achieving the American right to decent

work and fair treatment. This effort was dedicated to updating public perceptions and attitudes towards

the capabilities of people with disabilities.

Information booths and representations from approximately twenty organizations were available from 9

am-12 noon at this first time event. These sponsors include:

Ability Magazine

Americorps Arizona

Arizona Bridge to Independent Living

Arizona Commission for the Deaf & Hard-of-

Hearing

Arizona Employer’s Advisory Council

Cenpatico

Chicanos Por La Causa

Developmental Disabilities Planning Council

DeVry University

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Ernst Young

Goodwill Industries

Jobing.com

Life Development Institute

LINKAGES

Magellan Health Services

Maricopa Association of Governments

Staffing Management Association

STARS

United Cerebral Palsy

Untapped Arizona

Valley of the Sun Human Resource

Association

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The keynote speaker for this celebration was Kathy Martinez, Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment

Policy at the US Department of Labor. Other speakers included:

Andy Imparato, CEO, American Association of People with Disabilities

Larry Clausen, Executive Director, Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council

Ken Jacuzzi, Pioneer and champion of civil rights for people with disabilities

Thomas Means, Senior Auditor, Ernst Young

Col. Joey Strickland, Director, Arizona Department of Veteran’s Services

167 People officially pre-registered and another 45

People registered in person at the Rally.

Though not everyone who registered attended, the

demonstrated data collected is as follows.

Percentages are not shown as many of the people

listed themselves under more than one category.

Accommodations ensured included…

Accessible:

o Parking

o Paths-of-travel

o Restrooms

ASL Interpreters

Assisted Listening Devices

Large Print

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Of those who registered, the following agencies were represented:

ACYR

ADHS/BHS

Anthem College Online

Area Agency on Aging

AZ Commission for the Deaf

and Hard of Hearing

AZ Dept of Health Services

Brookline College

Career Counselor To Go

Cenpatico Behavioral

Health of Arizona

Chapel Haven West

Chartis

ChoicesNetwork

City of Tempe Diversity

Dept.

CPSA

Designed for living inclusive

communities

DK Advocates

Environarts, nc.

Family Partners

Goodwill

H.P. Consulting

Life Development Institute

Magellan Health Services

Marc Center of Mesa

Arizona

Maricopa Association of

Governments

Maricopa County

Maricopa Workforce

Connections

MIKID

National MS Society

NAU / IHD

NCADD

Parent of a spectrum

Child

Partners In Recovery

People Of Color Network

PIR

Save the Family

SequelCare of AZ

SMMHC

Southgate Academy

Southwest Behavioral

Services

Southwest Network

TecMarc

Tetra Services

The Arizona Department of

Administration

The Real Deal Re-Entry

Program

Ticket to Work w/Goodwill

and Rebecca Burt

TRBH

UCP of Central Arizona

Untapped Arizona

USDOL/OFCCP

Valleylife

YMCA / HomeBase Youth

Services

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30

9

5

Yes-Whole Event Yes-Part of the Event No-Did not attend

Following the event, a Post-Rally Survey was sent out to everyone who registered prior to and on the day of the event. Forty-five (45) people responded to this survey. The results are as follows:

1. Did you attend the EmployAbility Rally? 39 of the 45 who responded to the survey stated that they attended all or part of the event. If the responded answered “No” they taken directly to the end of the survey to answer the final questions.

2. Please evaluate the effectiveness of various aspects of the EmployAbility Rally.

Ple a se e va lua te the e ffe c tive ne ss o f va rio us a sp e cts o f the Emp lo yAb ility

Ra lly .

4.28 4.14 4.11 4.09 4.193.97 4.14

3.86

3.313.59

4.17

0.000.501.001.502.002.503.003.504.004.50

Registra

tion Pro

cess

Loca

tion of R

ally

Day of Rally

(weekday)

Parking

Exhibito

r Tables

Accom

modatio

ns

Access

ibility

Sponsor I

nfom

ercial

s

Seating

iPad Dra

wing

Overa

ll Event

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1. Infomercials should have been at the end of the event as we began losing people in the middle of the rally. Tables should have been closer to stage and not so spread out.

2. Sun was a bit bright, but so was the mood of the audience!

3. It would have been nice to see more local businesses there looking for resources.

4. Great Job

5. I was very pleased with the event! I just wish that I would have heard about it sooner so that I could have spoke to others about the event. I would love to see a lot more people next year, we need these events so badly. Thank you all for hosting this, and I would love to be more involved next year.

6. Shade will make a big difference next year!

7. I was told my entry was in there but did not put it there myself. Was it? I think that it definitely needed more employer representation and maybe if you didn't charge the amount you were charging some would have came. Isn't that the point?

8. Would have been better to have seating in the shade since it was a bit hot that day. Also seems there were no "infomercials" on TV (or I didn't know where they were!)... definitely need more marketing. Recommend better partnering with government agencies to ensure better message-spreading and attendance.

9. I need to know more about the hard-line goods available to the hearing impaired. Is there an event somewhere I can attend to learn about what is available to people who are hearing impaired in the Phoenix metropolitan area? Thanks.

10. The heat was a bit of an issue. I think perhaps greater efforts to move the chairs out of the sun earlier may have been helpful.

11. More general seating and shade. Food options would be nice.

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4.164.13

4.22

4.06

3.84

3.94

4.1

3.6

3.7

3.8

3.9

4

4.1

4.2

4.3

Rob

Crawford

Ken Jacuzzi Col.

Strickland

Kathy

Martinez

Larry

Clausen

Thomas

Means

Andy

Imparato

12. for more feedback, please call me...480.588.8428. Barbara

13. I wish the Exhibitor Tables had stayed available longer. As soon as the speeches ended the exhibitors closed up and I didn't get a chance to spend as much time as I would have liked gathering information and familiarizing myself with services being offered.

14. I thought that this was about Veterans, since I was invited via a leading Veteran. I think that this needs to be inside on a hot day, and on an even flooring for those in wheel chairs and who are blind, for bouncing or tripping on grass does not support a sense of well-being. As for parking, I have a handicap decal as I cannot walk a great length and I had to walk two blocks from the parking lot as whatever Handicap parking spaces there might have been, were blocked off by a wire which was closer to the event. Last, if you want to have the event outside, then find a place that has more covered seating or rent a canopy. Hope this was all helpful. Sincerely, Barbara Samuels

3. Please evaluate the effectiveness of the Speakers:

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1. Would have liked to see as much energy from each person speaking as Andy showed

2. I left early and did not hear the last 3 presenters.

3. I was pleased to see those speakers who struggle the most give effective speeches of hope for themselves and others. Their mentors have done an excellent job of helping them overcome their handicaps and to inspire them to move forward even in tough economic times. We all need that hope to have a better quality of life. Life is too precious to ignore and it is wonderful to know that there are people out there in a position to help others find that better quality of life throughout life's journey.

4. All had great energy and targeted messaging.

5. Those were the three I heard....

4. If you have specific feedback for any of the Rally speakers, please provide that so we can pass that along to each of them. Rob Crawford

Great Fun and kept it moving along nicely Thank you--more time is needed for next year. Maybe start at 8 am? Felt rushed at the tables of

information. Thank you for keeping the message positive- a real celebration!

Ken Jacuzzi His speech was very moving Ken, I just wanted to say thank you for everything you have done and are doing. And it was great to

finally meet you and a pleasure to hear you speak. Thanks, Michael Carpenter mike.carpenter@marccenter.com

GREAT! A hero of our time. Too many dates

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Thank you--more time is needed for next year. Maybe start at 8 am? Felt rushed at the tables of information.

Inspirational-I need a Friend exactly like him to exchange business ideas & Creative Writing How-To's

Thank you for asking people to work and vote. Sometimes it is all about expectations! Col. Strickland

Col. Strickland was an outstanding speaker and is a great voice for Veterans and Native Americans Very military oriented and I was never in the service, but helpful for many, I assume. Great motivational speaker Thank you--more time is needed for next year. Maybe start at 8 am? Felt rushed at the tables of

information. Thank you for being open and sharing about your life.

Kathy Martinez

It was great to meet Kathy and her speech was inspirational Interesting but too long Thank you--more time is needed for next year. Maybe start at 8 am? Felt rushed at the tables of

information. Thank you for coming to Phoenix. You inspire, therefore a true leader!

Larry Clausen

Great Thank you--more time is needed for next year. Maybe start at 8 am? Felt rushed at the tables of

information. Loved the people sharing their success.

Thomas Means

Great Very powerful, especially for us deaf and hard of hearing folks!

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It was too far

away, 1

No

transportation

, 0

Emergency, 1

Couldn't leave

work, 1

Thank you--more time is needed for next year. Maybe start at 8 am? Felt rushed at the tables of information.

You are a stellar young man! Andy Imparato

Great Thank you--more time is needed for next year. Maybe start at

8 am? Felt rushed at the tables of information. Passion and wisdom- thank you!

5. If you are getting this survey question, you signed up for the EmployAbility Rally but were not able to attend. Please help us understand why so we can hopefully address any issues that hindered your attendance:

Only 3 of the people who did not attend the event completed answer this question and gave the reasons listed to the right.

6. How can next year’s EmployAbility Rally be more effective for you? 1. Get more people to show up that have disabilities, employers to show support & recruit, factor in

the sun if it is outdoors. All in all a wonderful event I was proud to be part of!

2. More local business representation

3. Still wish to be part of the committee

4. We need more involvement from the community, local politicians, news outlets, community based organizations who work to employ the disabled.

5. Start marketing sooner to grow attendance. Other than that it was outstanding!

6. Hopefully I'll be able to attend!

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7. Maybe having more media coverage and getting the information out to people sooner.

8. Shade would be the biggest thing! :-) Keep the wide range of speakers, great to hear from a diverse range of folks about their situations and successes. Keep it real with personal stories. In short this year's EmployAbility Rally was a success and really did a great job in uplifting all of us lucky enough to attend.

9. Better outreach to those who would not otherwise be aware of the event or have a vested interest in it. I saw several community organizations present who specifically deal with disability awareness or employee recruitment, and good representation from political figures and select government agencies, but very little representation from other employers such as large corporations, small businesses (whose mission/purpose is not directly related to disability employment), and institutions of higher learning. It was a nice rally but I felt like attendance was small, and those who did attend were also in some way participating already, or aware of many of the issues discussed. (It felt a little like "preaching to the choir.") Next year I think it would be great if there could be people in attendance from ALL of our downtown banks, hotels, restaurants, movie theaters, retailers, etc -- there's no reason why they shouldn't be out there representing their businesses' mission, policies, and practices!! Getting ASU involved might be nice too as I bet they have on-campus advocacy groups and student populations that could make a lot of positive impact.

10. More more more!!!!

11. We need to determine how we can better market the event to staff who work with people with disabilities, as well as people with disabilities as well. By partnering with agencies to provide transportation, I suspect we might have better attendance.

12. The speakers were very effective, the setup was good and the trees were very beneficial for those who could sit under them in the heat of the sun. I had hoped to have more time to visit the tables of information made available to those who needed to see what was available to them. More information needs to be presented about the types of help available to those with disabilities. Where to contact that help or the different health formats and hard-line goods available that are safe to use.

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13. I don't know at this point other than I hope to be able to attend.

14. Could use Catering because of my Semi-Diabetic condition

15. Ask other people that come their too, if they are taped or untapped instead of just ones that where picked before the day of the EmployAbility Rally.

16. I do not know at this time. I am currently looking for a place to live.

17. By having actual employers there to possibly contract with organizations that have there people ready.

18. allow time either before or after the speakers presentations for interaction with the Exhibitor booths

19. Maybe have a bit more seating arranged.

20. More resources for East Valley residents.

21. Began on time

22. I probably won't attend since I learned which agencies do what.