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Tallahassee Man Cooking Up Success

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Mark Lipman has an uncanny memory for numbers, which can come in handy while working in a restaurant kitchen. The Tallahassee man also happens to have a developmental disability. During October, which is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Florida's Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) is putting the spotlight on Floridians like Lipman who have careers and fulfilling lives.

Lipman has been doing food prep at a Tallahassee Applebee's Restaurant for just over four years. An affable man who is popular with his co-workers, Lipman is diagnosed with autism. He loves his job and the feeling is mutual. When Lipman's birthday comes around, the restaurant staff always remembers.

"Mark is a good, dependable employee," says Phillip Dahm, the restaurant's general manager. "He's always on time, and he does everything that he's asked to do. Once you tell him something, you don't have to tell him again. And he gets along great with all the cooks in the kitchen."

Lipman's success is due to his upbeat attitude, and to the services he receives from APD that enable him to have a meaningful, enjoyable life in his own community. These services include support coordination, supported living coaching, and in-home support.

APD supports people with developmental disabilities to live, learn, and work in their communities. For more information about the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, visit apd.myflorida.com or call toll-free 1-866-APD-CARES (1-866-273-2273).

REMINDER FOR MEDIA---When reporting on stories about people with disabilities, remember to use language that puts the person first, rather than the disability. For example, use phrases such as "persons with disabilities" (instead of "the disabled") and "person who uses a wheelchair" (rather than "wheelchair bound").