Event Type : Coffee Talk

Navigating the Job Search Journey with Confidence – The Power of Disclosing Disabilities

In this empowering session, we delve into the nuanced and often uncharted territory of disclosing disabilities during the job search process. Discover the key strategies to turn disclosure into a strength, fostering an environment of openness and understanding with potential employers. We explore the delicate balance between transparency and personal privacy, providing valuable insights on when, how, and why to disclose your disability. Through real-life success stories and expert advice, participants will gain the tools to navigate interviews, application processes, and workplace dynamics with confidence. Our presentation transcends the traditional narrative, encouraging individuals to embrace their unique strengths and talents. Uncover the potential for diversity and inclusion to drive innovation and enhance team dynamics within professional settings. Whether you are a job seeker with a disability, a hiring manager, or an HR professional, this session will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to foster an inclusive and supportive workplace culture. Join us on this journey of empowerment, where disclosure becomes a catalyst for personal and professional growth.

Learning Objectives

1. Understanding the Dynamics of Disclosure: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the complexities surrounding disclosing disabilities during the job search, including legal considerations, personal choices, and potential impacts on the hiring process.
2. Strategic Disclosure Techniques: Learn practical strategies for strategically disclosing disabilities in various stages of the job search, from crafting resumes and cover letters to navigating interviews, in order to emphasize strengths and contribute to a positive and inclusive impression.
3.  Navigating Interview Challenges: Develop effective communication skills to confidently address questions related to disabilities during interviews, turning potential challenges into opportunities to showcase resilience, adaptability, and unique problem-solving abilities.
4. Building Inclusive Work Environments: Explore the role of individuals in fostering inclusive workplaces and learn how disclosing disabilities can contribute to a diverse and innovative organizational culture.
5. Empowering Professional Growth: Discover how embracing one’s unique strengths, including those associated with disabilities, can lead to increased self-confidence, resilience, and overall professional growth.

Free for All to Attend- Join us in recognizing National Disability Employment Awareness Month!

About Our FacilitatorS

Dr. Courtney Jarrett is the Director of Disability Services at Ball State University (BSU) where she oversees the university’s efforts to provide access and opportunity for approximately 4000 students with disabilities. A triple alum of BSU, Courtney is Affiliate Faculty in Women’s and Gender Studies, teaching several classes at BSU yearly. She authored a textbook, Not Your Momma’s Feminism, in 2016 and the 2nd edition was released in August 2020. She recently published her first children’s book, Muncie Women A-Z. She is a member of the League of Women Voters, American Association for University Women, and a current precinct committee person for her district in Muncie. Dr. Jarrett also has a role with Shafer Leadership Academy as a Community Inclusion Ambassador for People with Disabilities. In her never-ending crusade for work-life balance, Courtney enjoys reading for fun, going to the movies, traveling with her husband & sons, and spending quality time with friends and family.

Emily Karas is a Muncie native and resident. She currently serves as the Director of Graduate Student Success for Ball State’s Graduate School where she oversees three initiatives geared toward professional development and student well-being. Emily earned her Bachelor’s Degree in English Secondary Education from Butler University and a Master’s Degree in Student Affairs and Administration in Higher Education from Ball State University. In her sparse free time, Emily enjoys reading, traveling, bodies of water, and spending time with her three kids.

Strategic Decision Making: From Vision to Execution

How do you and your team make decisions? What is your process from vision to execution of a project or goal? Where do you get stuck?  Participants of this workshop will discuss common sticking points in the path of effective and strategic decision making and will learn tools and techniques for elevating their own decision making, as well as the strategic thinking of their team.

Learning Objectives

1. Gain a greater understanding of the obstacles to effective and strategic decision making
2. Learn tools for enhancing your strategic decision making
3. Develop actionable steps to implement with your team

Cost: Free for all to attend for the Innovation Connector’s Innovation Week!

About Our Facilitator

Erika Petrelli has been in people-development for more than 25 years, currently as The Leadership Program’s Senior Vice President of Leadership Development. She worked at the helm of Leadership’s central programming for more than a decade, overseeing its largest programmatic expansion serving K-12 youth across all five boroughs of New York City, and now trains key leadership skills to professionals across the country—as a keynote speaker and featured presenter at conferences, a trainer and coach within organizations, and an adjunct professor on youth work. She is also a key writer for all of The Leadership Program’s student curriculum, works in partnership with other organizations to develop or expand their curriculum, blogs regularly on subjects of leadership and personal development, and wrote an interactive journal, On Wings & Whimsy: Finding the Extraordinary Within the Ordinary, available on Amazon.