Bobby Dodd Institute

This morning, we shared that we were just $3,650 away from maxing out our gift matches and meeting our Give2Empower Day 2024 fundraising goal. We called for your support...and you showed up! Thanks to YOU, we have exceeded the goal, bringing the total raised so far to... $13,475 At an average cost of $2,500 per person, that's enough to help FIVE people with disabilities prepare for work and secure a job plus a head start toward helping a sixth! THANK YOU! 🙏 Our campaign clock won't expire until midnight tonight. Think we can reach $15,000 and help that sixth person? 💪 https://lnkd.in/excn5G9m #Give2Empower

Rome wasn’t built in a day… Yesterday, you helped one person with a disability secure a job. We are so thankful for this show of support! But we know we can do more. Nearly four out of five people with disabilities are unemployed. That’s why we made it our goal to raise $10,000 – to provide FOUR people with disabilities with training and job placement support. Thanks to generous friends who will match gifts made TODAY (up to the goal amount), we only need to raise $3,650 to meet our goal. Can you help us get there? https://lnkd.in/excn5G9m #Give2Empower

Do you believe in the ripple effect—the idea that an action can have an impact far beyond the immediate and expected?    STE(A)M Truck, one of BDI’s business partners, is proof that the ripple effect exists! By using BDI's warehouse solutions, STE(A)M Truck provides direct labor opportunities to individuals from the disability community, while the kits packaged for STE(A)M eventually go to the communities who may not have access to STE(A)M resources or training. https://lnkd.in/dEkD5hiu   Donate to BDI’s Give2Empower now and create your own ripples: Another generous friend of BDI has offered to match Give2Empower donations—up to $1,500! 🤲 https://lnkd.in/excn5G9m #Give2Empower #Donate #BDIEmploys #BDIEmpowers

One of these may be coming to you soon... We were excited to welcome our Give2Empower Day volunteers to BDI’s main campus, where they helped us create beautifully written thank-you cards for our donors. Thank you, Hannah Namgoong! We announced a $1,000 gift match, and you showed up. This match has been maxed out, but... a new one is now live! Another generous supporter of BDI has offered to match Give2Empower Day donations made in the NEXT TWO HOURS—up to $1,500! You too can make a difference today: Donate to BDI’s Give2Empower Day NOW and create more opportunities for people with disabilities to work and thrive! https://lnkd.in/efZdK_TD #Give2Empower #Give2EmpowerDay #Donate #DisabilityJobs #PeopleWithDisabilities #Volunteer #BDIEmpowers #BDIEmploys

Imagine if you had never been given a chance to launch your career. No vocational training. No internship. No first job. Where would you be today?    Meet Jewel, a recent participant of BDI’s Getting Ready for Opportunities in Work (G.R.O.W.) program. Too often, young adults with disabilities like Jewel get stuck in an unemployment cycle after high school. But thanks to G.R.O.W., Jewel learned she had options. The weeklong career exploration program for high schoolers with disabilities taught Jewel about respect, responsibility, and teamwork. G.R.O.W. also introduced Jewel to a hospitality training program, where she gained real-world work experience this summer.    You can help more people like Jewel kickstart their careers by donating to BDI’s Give2Empower Day. And thanks to the generosity of a friend, donations made RIGHT NOW will be matched—up to $1,000! With just 100 gifts of $25 each, together we can secure job training for one individual. Become a supporter today at: https://lnkd.in/euQATktm #Give2Empower #Give2EmpowerDay #Donate #BDIEmpowers

Today’s the day! Bobby Dodd Institute's first-ever Give2Empower Day is here.🎉 Help us celebrate the skills, ideas, and energy that people with disabilities bring to the workplace. 🎉 To kick things off, let's see why you should hire people with disabilities if you want your business to succeed 💡 →People with disabilities bring creativity to the workplace. →People with disabilities are dedicated and loyal employees. →Hiring people with disabilities boosts overall employee morale. →Hiring people with disabilities helps companies understand customers. →Companies can receive tax incentives for hiring individuals with disabilities. In this article, BDI's Kylie Moore covers in detail these five legit reasons to hire people with disabilities: https://lnkd.in/eynCP444 https://lnkd.in/excn5G9m #Give2EmpowerDay #Give2Empower #Philanthropy #DonateNow #SupportNonprofits #NDEAM #BDIEmpowers #BDIEmploys

How to Prevent Caregiver Burnout 🚨 Join Kate Houck, Executive Director of David's Refuge, for an insightful webinar focused on supporting caregivers. Learn how to recognize the early signs of burnout and understand its effects on both mental and physical health. Kate will also share practical self-care strategies and resources to help caregivers recharge and find support. 📅 Register now: https://lnkd.in/eKs3gD2h #CaregiverSupport #PreventBurnout #SelfCareTips #BDIEmpowers

Keep an eye out for these common red flags of learning disabilities in young children. What is Learning Disability? A disorder in basic psychological processes involved in understanding or using language, spoken or written, that manifests itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or use mathematical calculations. The term includes conditions such as perceptual disability, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia. Common signs that someone may have trouble learning: -- Difficulty reading or writing -- Struggles with math -- Poor memory -- Trouble paying attention -- Difficulty following directions -- Clumsiness -- Trouble telling time -- Difficulty staying organized A child with a learning problem may also have the following behaviors: -- Acting without thinking -- Acting out at school or with friends -- Getting distracted easily -- Trouble saying words or sharing their thoughts -- Schoolwork that changes from good to bad -- Talking like a younger child or leaving out words in sentences -- Difficulty listening -- Trouble with changes in routine -- Difficulty understanding words or ideas October is Learning Disabilities Awareness Month. There are a wide variety of disabilities—developmental, physical, mental, and acquired. Bobby Dodd Institute has resources that will help you become more familiar with some of the most commonly encountered disability-related terminology. Want to know more, go to https://lnkd.in/g8uSvf-U #LD #LearningDisability #LDMonth #LearningDisabilityMonth #Dyslexia #Dysgraphia #Dyscalculia #NonverbalLD #OralWrittenLanguageDisorder #BDIEmpowers

How was work today? Were you kind to your employees? Your colleagues? Yourself? Are you paying attention to what is going on around you? Maybe you’ve noticed that one of the top performers at your workplace has changed lately. Perhaps they are often calling in sick, their performance is dropping, or they have started exhibiting poor time-keeping habits. These may be your first signs that this person is going through a tough time. Recognize the patterns and offer help early. Stigma and discrimination often make it hard for people with mental health conditions to ask for help or to find and keep jobs. So, what can you do about it? Here are five simple ways we can all help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. https://lnkd.in/ga5MA5eH -- Pay Attention -- Watch Your Language -- Educate Yourself -- Focus on the Person Not the Condition -- Tell Your Own Story Today is World Mental Health Day — an important reminder for all of us to check in on our friends and family and show that we care.  This year's campaign theme is Mental Health at Work. _______________________________ The truth is, asking for help is difficult, but it’s also a sign of strength. Bobby Dodd Institute (BDI) offers a unique approach to behavioral and mental health services through a holistic lifespan technique. Dr. Brandon Printup specializes in working with adults and adolescents living with mental health, Autism Spectrum Disorder, intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program is open to all individuals aged 15 and up. Now accepting Medicaid. For a full list of a featured payment options, go to https://lnkd.in/gE7ZbVJm Follow Bobby Dodd Institute for valuable advice every week directly in your feed. Share your questions in the comments section below. Email us at empowers@bobbydodd.org. #WorldMentalHealthDay #BDIEmpowers

Congratulations to Working Wonders Award Winner Todd Willis. During a special ceremony, he was recognized for his hard work and continuing growth. Todd is in his mid-twenties and holds almost a full-time job as a production worker at Bobby Dodd Institute. He is always busy working on multiple projects at the BDI warehouse. After he got employed, many doors opened for him. Todd now lives independently with a roommate, has a girlfriend, and loves making new friends. His smile never leaves his face, and he feels happy and accomplished. The Georgia Enterprises for Products and Services (GEPS) Working Wonders Award is given annually to deserving individuals with disabilities recognizing their amazing perseverance in working toward their employment goals. #WorkingWonders #GEPS #BDIEmploys #BDIEmpowers