Services to Enhance Potential (STEP) Joins Broad Effort to Observe National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Nationwide campaign will take place in October

Services to Enhance Potential will be participating in the National Disability Employment Awareness Month, an annual awareness campaign that takes place each October. The purpose of National Disability Employment Awareness Month is to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. This year's theme is "My disability is one part of who I am."

The history of National Disability Employment Awareness Month traces back to 1945, when Congress enacted a law declaring the first week in October each year "National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week." In 1962, the word "physically" was removed to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

"This year's theme encapsulates the important message that people with disabilities are just that — people," said Jennifer Sheehy, acting assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy. "And like all people, we are the sum of many parts, including our work experiences. Disability is an important perspective we bring to the table, but, of course, it's not the only one."

Here at STEP we work hard to find opportunities to get the people we serve jobs that will lead to their increased independence and happiness. We offer a wide variety of options and programs to ensure those we serve or ready and comfortable to enter independent employment including retail classes, janitorial classes, supervised work crews, and employment readiness trainings just to name a few.

One thing that we cannot stress enough is something Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein said at the MI Hidden Talent event put on by the Livonia Chamber of Commerce, “This is not charity. This is about the idea that if you give a disabled person an opportunity . . . you are going to find the most highly energetic, highly passionate, most incredibly loyal people that you could ever possibly hope to employ.”

One of STEP’s partners had this to say about how giving those with a disability an opportunity has benefited them “DQB industries and STEP have had a mutually beneficial relationship for more years that we can remember. Dan and his crew (from STEP) are an integral part of DQB industries, and we credit our smooth-running packaging operation to all of their hard work and dedication to a job well done.”

Employers and employees in all industries can learn more about how to participate in National Disability Employment Awareness Month and ways they can promote its messages — during October and throughout the year — by visiting www.dol.gov/ndeam. You can also learn more about Services to Enhance Potential by visiting www.stepcentral.org or emailing Steve Slayton at sslayton@stepcentral.org

Livonia Stevenson High School Turns 50 Three-Day Celebration Planned

Thousands of alumni from Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Livonia are expected to celebrate the school’s 50th anniversary with a weekend of activities including the homecoming football game against rival Churchill High School.

“We plan to acknowledge and celebrate the 50 years of the consistently high level of academic, athletic and performing arts achievement as well as our outstanding alumni and our supportive community,” said retired principal Jim Gibbons, who spearheaded the planning efforts for the celebration.

The events will kick off on Thursday, October 22 with a commemorative dedication ceremony at 7 pm in the Stevenson Competition Gym. The event will be attended by school officials, students and local leaders but is also open to the public. A faculty and staff reunion and reception will follow in the north cafeteria.

On Friday, October 23, the Spartans will host Livonia Churchill in the annual Stevenson Homecoming Game at 7 PM. Alumni classes and groups will gather at the stadium before and during the game and some will participate in a parade of alumni around the track by decade and grad year. Local businesses and alumni vendors will be on hand for the evening.

Saturday, October 24, from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM an all class reunion will be held in the Field House and the school building will be available for an open house. The set up will be similar to Friday evening with vendors and alumni gathering in the Field House. Music and Performing Arts, Student Leadership, Global Education and Athletics will host their alumni in designated areas of the school.

“Our events will commemorate Stevenson High School’s unique and high profile beginning as the first high school in the country to be named after Adlai E. Stevenson and to one of a few, if not the only high school, to be dedicated by the sitting Vice President, Hubert H. Humphrey,” said Gibbons.

Several sponsorship opportunities are available. All proceeds will cover the costs of the celebration and anything extra will be donated back to the school. For more information visit Livonia Stevenson 50th Web Page or email shs50@livoniapublicschools.org.

We encourage alumni and former staff members to connect via the Livonia Stevenson 50th Web Page and to spread the word.

"It's a really exciting opportunity to be able to take a look back at a half century of history at a place that I have been associated with for over half my life, between being a teacher and a student." stated Craig Barker, SHS '96.