Message from the Director
Celebrating Jobs and Focusing on the Future
By Barbara Palmer
The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) enjoyed a fabulous October celebrating Disability Employment Awareness Month. This issue of The Champion is packed with events and activities highlighting people with disabilities and the employers that hire them. Governor Rick Scott presented Exceptional Employer Awards to seven companies on October 9 (see story and photos below). The agency celebrated Disability Mentoring Day across the state on October 16 and I had the honor of having a student, Ashley Martin, spend the morning with me (see story below).
On October 30, the Northwest Regional Office in Tallahassee had a celebration recognizing seven individuals with disabilities who have been successfully employed—Stacy Powell, Shannon Peters, Georgia LoCastro, Brandan Garrett, Katie Bowman, Daryl Peters, and Tom LoCastro. Each person spoke about their jobs and their pride at being successful. Octavius Jackson organized the event to celebrate closing Disability Employment Awareness month.
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Moving into 2014, the agency is focused on the future for the people we serve. APD is working with the Governor’s Office on developing a plan for waiting list and employment funding for the next fiscal year. On October 30, APD Deputy Director of Planning and Budget, Sharon Bradford, presented the agency’s Legislative Budget Request (LBR) to the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budgeting. One of the agency’s top priorities in the LBR is $1.8 million in recurring funding to complete development of the Client Data Management System. The system will have a centralized client record and will track provider payments. It will have an electronic visit verification component to reduce billing errors and fraud. APD is also requesting money to improve Billy Joe Rish Park on Cape San Blas and Hawkins Park in Milton to make them even more accessible and fun for people with disabilities. More information on the LBR can be found here Presentation Link
In November, APD will be sending out more than 700 letters to additional people on the waiting list to invite them to enroll into iBudget Florida, the agency has already offered 754 people waiver services this year. I am excited to bring more people onto the waiver and greatly appreciate Governor Scott and the Legislature for the additional $36 million in funding for individuals on the waiting list this year.
Gov. Scott Honors Businesses Committed to Hiring Individuals with Disabilities
Governor Rick Scott recognized seven businesses today at the eighth annual Exceptional Employers Awards for their commitment to employing people with disabilities. The annual Exceptional Employers Awards ceremony was held in celebration of Disability Employment Awareness Month.
Governor Scott said, "These businesses have done an incredible job in providing jobs and opportunities for individuals with disabilities. We have to support families’ efforts to find jobs for their loved ones, and that’s why my Florida Families First Budget invested $500,000 to provide job training skills for individuals with disabilities.
“This is also why I issued an executive order to support state agency efforts to improve employment outcomes for persons with disabilities in the Sunshine State.”
Agency for Persons with Disabilities, Blind Services, and Vocational Rehabilitation assisted in presenting the awards to this year’s seven winners:
- Beck Automotive Group of Palatka
- Express Employment Professionals of Pensacola
- McDonald’s Restaurants
- Sykes Enterprises, Inc. of Lakeland
- TJX Companies
- Wendy’s Restaurants (JAA Restaurant Holdings, LLC) of Boca Raton
- Winn Dixie /BILo Corporation
Governor Scott is also awarding each of these companies a Governor’s Business Ambassador Award at the October 10 meeting of the Florida Cabinet. The Governor’s Business Ambassador Award is given to individuals for their efforts in creating jobs and opportunities for Florida families.
APD Director Barbara Palmer said, "I am excited to recognize these outstanding Florida companies who offer people with disabilities a chance to prove themselves. These business leaders have learned what we have known for years that individuals with disabilities are some of their best employees. These workers are committed to their jobs and employers. They come to work on time, are always happy to be at work, and take pride in their daily accomplishments.”
McDonald’s General Manager Janet Zipp said, “We are truly honored to receive this wonderful recognition. The people we hire are hard workers and they do a great job for us. They help out just like everyone else to get the job done. They are all a part of our team.”
JAA Restaurant Holdings Chief Operating Officer Angelo Freites said, “It is an honor and a privilege to receive these awards from Governor Scott. We are committed to continuing to hire people with special needs as they are an integral part of society and our organization.”
Charles Bockwith with Express Employment Professionals said, “Express Employment Professionals of Pensacola is very proud to receive the Exceptional Employer Award and Governor’s Business Ambassador Award. We are a staffing company and it is our mission to help as many people as possible to succeed. It has been especially exciting to help those with disabilities succeed as we find they are especially eager to work and will go the extra mile to prove themselves. We have found those with disabilities to be extremely loyal and tremendous assets to their employers. They are so excited to be on their own, able to pay their bills and live life with a positive outlook and encouragement for the future. The enthusiasm just shines through in their faces and you can hear it in their voices. They are so proud to be working just like you and me.”
Beck Automotive Group General Manager Wayne McClain said, “It is an honor for the Beck Automotive Group to receive these awards. We feel fortunate have such great employees. They truly inspire all of us in the Beck Automotive Group on a daily basis.”
“Winn-Dixie and the entire Bi-Lo Holdings organization are delighted and honored to receive the Exceptional Employer Award and Governor’s Business Ambassador Award,” said Steve Frey, talent management and analytics senior director for Bi-Lo Holdings. “These prestigious awards are testaments to the talented and loyal associates we have. It is our approach to workforce inclusiveness and diversity that enables us to appreciate perspectives from all people and use those perspectives to solve problems and create new ideas as our business continues to grow and prosper. We would not be successful without the dedication of each and every one of our associates.”
Beck Automotive Group (Palatka)
Beck Automotive Group has made a longstanding commitment to employing people with disabilities. One employee has been on the job for 31 years, and another employee with disabilities has worked for 16 years. The company has gone above and beyond to help their employees remain employed. This organization is a true example of an Exceptional Employer.
Express Employment Professionals (Pensacola)
Not only has the company hired several people with disabilities, Express Employment Professionals has made a commitment to its community by supporting efforts to get more individuals with disabilities into the workforce. The company participates in mock interviews held each quarter, interviewing as many as 80 students with disabilities so they can fine tune their interviewing skills. Additionally, they are also involved in Disability Mentoring Day held each October for job seekers to shadow a professional on the job.
McDonald’s Restaurants
McDonald’s Restaurants has a strong and deep commitment to having people with disabilities working at its restaurants statewide with 148 individuals employed last year. At a corporate restaurant in St. Petersburg, they have hired eight people with disabilities. The store has done job carving for one person who has dexterity issues with his hand so he is able to make Happy Meals for children using the boxes rather than the bags. They ensure that the individual is successful in the workplace.
Sykes Enterprises, Inc. (Lakeland)
Sykes Enterprises, Incorporated of Lakeland began including people with disabilities in its workforce more than 10 years ago. Sykes sought to hire individuals with disabilities and reached out to Blind Services to begin the process. Since then, Sykes has employed many individuals with all types of disabilities at its Lakeland call center. This company provides technical support to Fortune 1000 companies throughout the world.
TJX Companies
TJX Companies include TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods stores. This group of companies has an outstanding record of employing people with disabilities with 277 being hired last year. These organizations have a national, top-down commitment to including people with disabilities in its workforce. Store managers encourage placement coordinators to bring individuals with disabilities to be interviewed for positions.
Wendy’s Restaurants (JAA Restaurant Holdings LLC) (Boca Raton)
Wendy’s restaurants and its franchise from Central and Southeast Florida— JAA Restaurant Holdings—have an outstanding commitment to employment opportunities for those with disabilities. This Wendy’s franchise is made up of 36 restaurants, and they are employing more than 100 people with disabilities. They believe in their employees with disabilities, and support the Wendy’s founder, Dave Thomas’s tradition of giving back to the community.
Winn Dixie
Winn-Dixie Supermarkets make a phenomenal difference when it comes to hiring many, many people with all types of disabilities. Last year, Winn-Dixie hired 741 individuals with disabilities throughout the state. Store managers make it a priority to be inclusive in their hiring decisions. This company is one of the top employers of people with disabilities in the state.
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Business Ambassadors
On October 10, Governor Rick Scott recognized the winners of the Exceptional Employer Award with the Governor’s Business Ambassador Award during the Florida Cabinet meeting at the Capitol. The Governor’s Business Ambassador Award is given to individuals for their efforts in creating jobs and opportunities for Florida families.
Those receiving the award were:
- General Manager Janet Zip of McDonalds.
- From Lakeland, Sykes Enterprises Manager of Global HR Compliance Amanda Owen, and Site Director Fran Harrington.
- TJX Companies include TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods stores. Representing TJX Companies was TJ Maxx District Manager for North Florida Rick Marshall.
- Wendy’s restaurants and its franchise from Central and Southeast Florida— JAA Restaurant Holdings. Receiving the award was JAA Chief Operating Officer Angelo Freites.
- Representing Winn-Dixie Supermarkets was Cecily Culbertson from Winn-Dixie’s Human Resources Office
- The other two companies that were honored as Exceptional Employers were Beck’s Automotive Group of Palatka and Express Employment Professionals of Pensacola who were not able to be here attend the meeting.
Disability Mentoring Day in Tallahassee
On October 16, Ashley Martin, APD customer and a student in the Lively Transition program participated in Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) by shadowing APD Director Barbara Palmer in Tallahassee. Martin sat in on an important meeting about employment, and participated in two media interviews with the director.
Fifty five students participated in DMD in Leon County. The biggest DMD partner is the City of Tallahassee and as always the participants seemed to look forward to job shadowing. Every year new businesses are added to the mentor list. A couple of new private businesses were added this year, including Longhorn Steakhouse (Tallahassee only has one location) and Advantage Dental Lab. The students came back to school talking about their experiences and enjoyed sharing what they learned.
At noon, the Annual Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) celebration was held at Lincoln High School. The event served as an appreciation to the mentees and mentors that participated in DMD. Maria Folsom, DMD committee chair, along with Andre Howard, interim Director of FAAST, Carrie Milhous of Ability 1st, Rachel Smith of VR, and Octavius Jackson of APD coordinated the celebration. Joseph D’Souza of the Able Trust spoke about the importance of DMD and the Able Trust’s commitment to the empowerment of mentees through employment shadowing. The talented student in culinary arts at Lincoln catered the event in great fashion. Valerie Jones, Waiver Support Coordinator for APD and Sue Wilson, dedicated teacher to Ashley Martin, were honored for their continuous dedication to DMD throughout the years. Melanie Etters, APD Communications Director, represented APD at the luncheon. The focus of the event was that career experiences are an invaluable way for people with disabilities to gain additional knowledge and experience and display their capabilities to businesses and organizations.
Bay County Participates in Disability Mentoring Day
Twenty four Bay County businesses, along with six different schools, participated in providing Disability Mentoring Day opportunities for 85 students and adults with disabilities on October 16. Sam’s Club provided job shadow opportunities and a tour of the store showcasing the tasks completed by each employee. It was a great opportunity for individuals to showcase their abilities to potential employers, make decisions on what types of jobs to focus on, and build new connections for other possible opportunities. The businesses got to interact with people with disabilities and the possibilities that could be developed. Pamela Cramer, counselor with Vocational Rehabilitation, said, "someone with a disability is just as anxious and eager to work as anyone else, and is a great worker that stays there a long time, so it is definitely an untapped resource."
Mock Interviews in the Northwest Region Bring Smiles
Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) Mock Interview workshops were held at 12 high schools in Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa counties in the Northwest Region on October 24. Katrina Washington, APD Employment Liaison, with the assistance of Tara Crawford-Potter and Eunicia Guichici recruited five to nine employers to go to each high school to interview students. Employers were impressed with the student’s pride and eagerness to work. Each student had their resume and was dressed to impress. As the students went from employer to employer, their confidence became visible. Employers also provided the teachers with feedback along with tips on successfully navigating through their employment process. Shirley Godwin, a teacher at Tate High School, expressed her appreciation in the following note:
“Thank you for another successful Mock Interview event! We had 20 students to participate, with nine employers. It was a very meaningful experience for our students. Many students walked in a little nervous, but walked out with a big smile! The event was both a skill-builder and a confidence-builder for our students. We are so thankful for the wonderful relationship we have with APD. Our students will be better prepared for life after high school because of the collaboration we share. Thanks so much for all you do!”
Setting Sail Toward Success
By Melanie Mowry Etters
International maritime equipment provider W & O Supply wanted its Jacksonville office to reduce the amount of paper being stored for its transactions. The maritime company has been in business for more than 30 years with offices all over the globe.
W & O Supply hired Kelsey Adams two years ago to work in the Human Resources office, however with her great organizational skills, she was soon snatched up by the Accounts Receivable office to help the other workers meet their paperless effort. Credit and Collections Director Brenda Britt said, “Kelsey is a great part of our team. Her duties are essential to help keep everything moving quickly and efficiently. She has helped us become paperless much faster than we would have without her help!”
Adams has Down syndrome and receives services from Florida’s Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD). Adams job duties include checking email, delivering invoices and checks, scanning documents, and shredding unneeded paper. She works five days a week and has become a valuable asset to W & O Supply.
Britt said, “Kelsey always comes in with a great attitude. Her happiness is contagious. She is such a pleasure to be around. She is meticulous with scanning our credit files. She has learned to multitask during this process which has enabled her to get more credit files scanned in a shorter period of time. She has a routine and always knows her responsibilities and what is supposed to be next.”
Adams loves getting her paycheck directly deposited into her bank account. She is saving up money and hopes to live in her own apartment with friends in the future.
Besides working, Adams likes hanging out with friends and family. She is also committed to being healthy. She said, “I love fitness, running, basketball and Weight Watchers. I also love to read, draw, and write letters. I love Club Arc which is an easy-going place where you can eat pizza, play games, and dance to a DJ!”
Human Trafficking Summit
The Interagency Human Trafficking Workgroup, chaired by Juvenile Justice Secretary Wansley Walters, hosted the 2013 Florida Human Trafficking Summit on October 3 in Tampa on the University of South Florida campus. Since the inaugural event last year, there have been great things happening in our state to bring awareness to the tragedy of human trafficking and there have been great strides to help victims of these horrible crimes recover.
This year’s summit held three breakout sessions with 13 individual courses designed to give professionals in various fields including prosecutors, advocates, educators, and law enforcement officers the resources they need to combat this problem. Secretary Walters said, “The expert panelists at the summit were truly some of the best in the nation, and I am overjoyed that so many people attended.”
West Florida Volleyball Takes Part in Game Changer Initiative
The University of West Florida volleyball team added a new member to the roster for a game in October, a midseason move not regularly seen in intercollegiate athletics. While Pensacola local Rachel Parker’s name didn’t show up in the box score that night, her presence was felt and had an impact on the Argonauts dominating win.
Parker is a part of an Agency for Persons with Disabilities program called Game Changer. The program’s intention is to empower individuals who have disabilities and to increase the participation of individuals with disabilities at community events. Parker has a developmental disability and sometimes has difficulties meeting people and being in public places.
“The Game Changer initiative is a great program and we were happy to help out,” Head Coach Melissa Wolter said. “Allowing an individual with a disability to be part of a team and be alongside teammates is a really cool idea. We felt like Rachel was a part of the team that night. She is such a sweet person and our student-athletes loved being around her.”
Before the match, Parker met with Wolter and her coaching staff before being introduced to the West Florida volleyball team. Parker watched the match from a special courtside couch and sat in with the team for the post-game locker room speech. While Parker is not a big fan of being in the public eye, she enjoyed the opportunity to be around the UWF volleyball team that night.
“I really liked the night,” Parker said. “I like playing volleyball and I liked being in the locker room with the volleyball players.”
For information on all UWF athletics, visit www.GoArgos.com.
FABA Annual Conference
Every September, the Florida Association for Behavior Analysis (FABA) holds its annual conference giving APD area and senior behavior analysts around the state an opportunity to come together and meet face to face. This “Pre-FABA” meeting, as it is fondly referred to, has been a tradition at least as far back as the late 1990s when Michael Hemingway was the agency senior behavior analyst. This year the group was hosted by Area Behavior Analyst Bill Carlucci at the Northeast Field Office in Daytona Beach on September 24. Though they meet monthly via conference call, the group enjoys the opportunity to have more than just a couple hours to discuss complex topics, and strategize about system improvements for the coming year.
Led by Senior Behavior Analyst, Dr. Steve Coleman, topics discussed at this year’s meeting included the outcomes of the Peer Review Committee Reviews, training for APD eligibility for individuals with autism, analysis of reactive strategies, gathering Children's Medical Service Assurance data, and revisions to the Global Behavioral Needs Matrix.
Around the State
Jobs in the Bag
By Melanie Mowry Etters
Erik Olesen has made such a good impression at his new internship that the company has already promised him a permanent position once is paid internship ends in November. The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) funded an employment internship for Olesen with Green Light Fire Bag in Lake County this fall so he could get some on-the-job training.
Green Light Fire Bag is a start-up company that makes kits to start campfires. The company recently started production and was open to having a paid internship to help with the manufacturing of the product. Green Light Fire Bag re-purposes paper livestock feed sacks that are usually thrown away. Workers load them with USDA approved, kiln dried firewood, and add a special blend of chemical free, eco-friendly, and sustainable materials. A small box of matches is attached to the inside of the bag to ensure they can be found when needed. They sew the bag closed so nothing got lost. Finally, they have a complete fire kit that can be stored for as long as wanted. It is dry, simple, and easy. All items are environmentally friendly. The intern places the matches in the bag package and has other responsibilities as well.
Olesen is enjoying his new job and all of its duties. He said, "I like putting together the boxes and gluing the matches"
APD Employment Liaison Cindy Drew worked with Executive Director Paula Whetro of Building Block Ministries to help arrange the internship for Olesen. Whetro was very familiar with Olesen having worked with him since 2006. Whetro states, “Our program is designed to assist adults with varying developmental disabilities to obtain and maintain life skills, jobs skills, independence, and employment opportunities. By partnering with employers in our community we have been able to place our participants, like Erik, in meaningful and gainful employment positions.”
Drew said, “I used the APD internship funding to locate an internship for someone on the APD waiver waiting list. When the internship ends in about five weeks, it will turn into a part-time job for Erik. His employer is exceptionally pleased with his work. It took a lot of time and effort to put this into place, and I am happy it is working out so well.”
Vice-President of Green Light Fire Bag David Hidalgo said, “Green Light Fire Bag is proud to celebrate this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month. We have long believed that a strong workforce is inclusive of the talents and skills of all individuals. We have been extremely impressed by Eric’s work ethic, performance, and aptitude in the workplace and are pleased to provide workplace accommodations to ensure his success.”
Green Light Fire Bag is a fast growing company that manufactures a complete, instant light, real wood burning, chemical free campfire product. Green Light Fire Bag users simply tear the bag, light with the included matches, and enjoy an authentic campfire indoors or outdoors without any guesswork or mess. Now Olesen, an individual with a disability, is helping the company achieve even greater success.
Getting a Head start on Work Experience
Katrina Washington, Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) Northwest Region Employment Liaison, was one of the presenters at the University of West Florida Disability Awareness Day Conference on October 17 in Pensacola.
Washington was able to get the room filled with high school students with disabilities, their parents, and teachers excited about employment and motivated to start finding a job. She explained how they can utilize the SSI Student Income Exclusion work incentive and gave them other tools they could use to find employment.
After lunch, participants attended a job fair where the employment strategies they learned could be used. John Wood, a Navarre High School student, impressed a Gulf Power representative and received an invitation to be tested for a customer service position.
An employer panel shared the importance of a good attitude, getting to the interview on time, being respectful, being dressed for the job, having the skills to do the job, and the desire to do it. The conference shared a variety of tools to assist individuals with disabilities from being a job seeker to a job keeper.
Disability Information Connections
By Octavius R. Jackson, M.Ed.
In celebration of Disability Employment Awareness Month, Workforce Plus Leon County Career Center Manager Rachel Oliver invited APD to provide informational seminars to both their Leon and Gadsden locations on October 15 and 16. APD conducted a presentation on disability related topics, such as the value of hiring peoplewith disabilities, etiquette when working with people with disabilities, and other topics. Staff members were provided APD publications and educated on the new regional structure, as well as the referral process. Focus was made on ways to ensure employment success for those in our community with disabilities, and also knowing how to access the various resources available for them.
Tiffany Boyer, Workforce Plus’ Youth Experience Work Coordinator for the region, discussed establishing a partnership with APD. The Work Experience activity serves to meet the needs of the community by partnering youth (ages 16-21) with local employers. The goal of the program is to provide the program participants meaningful work experiences that are career focused. Local employers have the opportunity to serve as a mentor to the youth by developing a professional relationship in a real world work environment. The employers play an integral part by exposing the participants to opportunities they were either unaware of or always believed were out of their reach. The participants go through a three day new hire orientation that covers the soft skills necessary to be productive in a working environment, and are given a drug test and background check. The participants work up to 20 hours a week depending on their availability. To date the program has partnered over 100 youth with over 20 different employers in the Gadsden, Leon, and Wakulla counties. Benefits of this program include:
• An opportunity to mentor local youth (ages 16-21) as they gain work experience
• An opportunity to measure work ethic and competency before extending an official offer
• Expose participants to careers
• Have an extra hand available to assist in necessary assignments
The two agencies will work at targeting APD customers that would benefit from this program. Also, they will focus on bringing in employers that will provide strong and professional insights that will equip APD customers with valuable work related skills.
Student Plays with the Mobile Patriots
As part of Disability Employment Awareness Month, the Panhandle Business Leadership Network sponsored the Mobile Patriots, a wheelchair basketball team, to play against a group of Pensacola professionals in wheelchairs on October 3. John Wood, a student at Navarre High School was given an opportunity to meet the Mobile Patriots, play on their team, and announce parts of the game. Wood enjoyed the evening and wanted to share his experience to inspire others. Read Wood’s story below:
Right from the start of the basketball game I knew what I was up against, I knew these guys were bigger, faster, and stronger than me and it honestly made me feel intimidated but after a little bit of game time I felt better because I had an advantage over them, I knew I could block for them.
After about two or three plays I went and replaced the announcer for a little while and got to get a feel of how it is to announce an actual game play by play. After a little bench time I got back on the court for a while and I blocked for the team, before I knew it, my team was ahead, 50 to 30 with my team receiving a penalty.
After another few minutes I announced some more of the game and our score was 60 to 43 with my team winning the game.
Free Respite Offered
The Northwest Region Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) employees partnered with P.U.R.E. Friendship Ministries and Marcus Pointe Baptist Church in Pensacola to provide free respite for caregivers as part of the United Way Day of Caring on October 11.
APD eligible individuals and their caregivers were treated to a coffee social along with lunch and a movie. Caregivers were given the option of enjoying respite or being pampered. P.U.R.E. Friendship Ministry volunteers and seven APD employees served the guests and spent time with each participant. P.U.R. E. Friendship Ministries through Marcus Pointe Baptist Church has opened its doors to APD in the Northwest Region.
Destry LeBrun, the founder and former waiver support coordinator, has a passion for APD customers and encourages participation in all events or will also develop an activity utilizing the individual’s unique abilities. P.U.R.E. Friendship Ministries plans to continue to offer a monthly coffee social and free respite one Saturday a month. They also offer meeting space, incontinence supplies, wheelchair repairs, bible study, and a career closet. The mission of P.U.R.E. Friendship Ministries is to provide a place for families and individuals who are affected by disabilities to feel welcome, wanted, safe, and loved. For information, LeBrun can be contacted at 850-375-4790 or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PureFriendshipMinistries.
Sunland Hosts Halloween Party
The Optimist Club of Jackson County provided a Halloween party for Sunland Center’s Johnson House on October 15. The club has been sponsoring Johnson House for over 20 years and the residents look forward to the Halloween, Christmas, Valentine, and Easter parties the club provides for them.
The Optimist Club visits Johnson House four times a year and are very close with most of the residents and know them by name. Sunland appreciates the support of this group and others that step up to serve as volunteers for the residents. Civic groups, church groups, or individuals wishing to serve as volunteers or sponsors at Sunland should call Karen Henrickson, volunteer coordinator, at (850) 482-9373.
St. Joe Park
Sunland Center Volunteer Services Coordinator Karen Henrickson and Sunland Advisory Council Member Ted Lakey attended the St. Joseph State Park Appreciation Day at Cape San Blas on September 28.
There were lots of local environmental groups on hand with informational display booths. Henrickson represented the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) and provided information to visitors about Billy Joe Rish Park, operated by APD and Sunland Center. Brochures and information were given out about Rish Park and its availability to people with disabilities and their family.
Rish Park Prize
Governor Rick Scott recently recognized seven businesses at the Exceptional Employers Awards for their commitment to employing people with disabilities. The annual event was held in celebration of Disability Employment Awareness Month and hosted by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD), Blind Services, and Vocational Rehabilitation.
To close out the celebration, several door prizes were awarded that were donated by various APD partners. One door prize was a free weekend to Billy Joe Rish Park donated by Sunland Center. The winner of the free weekend was Matthew Rehberg. Rehberg is 15 years old and attends Hope School. He enjoys participating in his church youth group, being a member of his school’s Special Olympics team, and watching Florida Gators football. He is a devout Tim Tebow fan and dreams of meeting him one day.
The entry into the chance to win the door prize was submitted by a friend who attends church with Rehberg. When he and his family were notified they had won the weekend at Rish Park, Rehberg’s face lit up with excitement. He immediately replied, “Alright, awesome. I’m ready to go!”
FAMU Health Day
The Agency for Persons with Disabilities, along with 90 other community partners, participated in FAMU’s Annual Health and Safety Day on October 15. The event was coordinated by Mildred Brickler. The event consisted of various partners that provide services to the community. Attendees were able to undergo screenings for hearing, sight, and blood pressure. Dr. Larry Robinson, the interim president of the university, spoke to the guests regarding the importance of staying healthy to be able to provide care from themselves and others. The community was encouraged to seek services that would be beneficial for themselves and their families.
APD Cares South Florida Style
The APD South Florida team came together to kick-off the community based initiative to promote wellness and participate in future community events on October 12. The Southern and Southeast Regions joined in inviting consumers, representatives, families, and caregivers from the CDC+ program to a wellness walk and beach picnic.
The goal of this event was for the APD Team to show support for caregivers and help them take time out of their busy schedules to relax and engage in healthy activities in a less demanding environment. Overall, the aim was to help caregivers refocus and realize they also need to take care of themselves.
The main activity for the event was a walk on Hollywood Beach Broadwalk. APD employees and families had an opportunity to meet and socialize with customers and their families. Many participants stated that they had a great time, were looking forward to the next event, and planned on inviting more people to participate.
The plan is to identify local events in our community and show that APD CARES by coming out in support of APD families by making this a quarterly commitment at different locations throughout the South Florida area.
Northwest Region Opens Disability Awareness Month with an Awards Luncheon
The Disability Summit Council, along with the Pensacola Pen Wheels, Inc., sponsored the Ninth Annual National Disability Awareness Month Luncheon on October 1 at the Scenic Hills Country Club in Pensacola. Warren Jernigan, founder and chairman of the Disabilities Summit Council, opened the ceremony by expressing appreciation and gratitude to State Representative Clay Ingram for his ongoing support of individuals with disabilities and for serving as the Master of Ceremonies.
Stewart Roberts was recognized by the Emerald Coast Utility Authority (ECUA) for being an outstanding employee and enhancing the work environment with his positive attitude. Cody Kennedy was recognized by Vocational Rehabilitation for successfully transitioning from school to employment. John Collins, a member of the Family Care Council and a Project Empower board member, was recognized for his strong advocacy for individuals with disabilities empowering them to use their abilities to assist with developing community supports for individuals on the APD waiting list. For information on Project Empower, check out the website at http://projectempowernwfl.org . Lisa Conn was recognized by her employer, ARC Gateway, for her 27 years of dedicated service. Adrian Wyer with Gulf Coast Enterprises and Frank Cherry with the Center for Independent Living were provided certificates of appreciation for their long term commitment to promoting employment for individuals with disabilities. Octavius Jackson, an APD Northwest Region Program Supervisor, presented Katrina Washington, the APD Northwest Region Employment Liaison, with a service award for her outstanding service and dedication to empowering the lives of individuals with disabilities and their support systems. Jackson commended Washington for the hope and confidence she instills in individuals with disabilities as she promotes employment in the community.
2013 Jordy Engels Award Winner Announced
VOR joins with Florida affiliate DSI Supporters, Inc.; Ed and Virginia Carraway, VOR Florida State Coordinators; and David and Leni Engels, long-time VOR members, in proudly announcing the 2013 Jordy Engels Award. VOR has selected Don and Ruth Stover as the recipients of the 2013 Jordy Engels Award for the decades of service offered to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. The Stovers have contributed greatly to the developmental disability community and have advocated both in Florida and nationally.
Both Don and Ruth Stover are long-time VOR members. Don is the current president of the family association at Tacachale DSI, a state-operated intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities and a member of the Family Care Council in Florida. The Stovers regularly attend meetings for disability advocates, offering a reasoned voice for choice at every opportunity.
Founded in 1983, VOR has championed individual and family decision-making with regard to all care decisions. They view the right of decision-making and the provision of person-centered services a basic human right and central to ensuring high quality care in appropriate settings.
Governor Scott Appoints Nine to the Rehabilitation Council for the Blind
Governor Rick Scott recently announced three appointments and six reappointments to the Rehabilitation Council for the Blind. All terms began October 7 and end August 31, 2016.
Jesus Garcia, 49, of Hialeah, is the manager of Logisticare LLC. He succeeds Andrew Raines.
Robert Kelly, 60, of Daytona Beach, is the executive director of Florida Lions Conklin Center for the Blind. He succeeds Ted Hull.
Patricia Lipovsky, 63, of Daytona Beach, is a self-employed property manager. She fills a vacant seat.
The following six individuals were all reappointed: Leanne Grillot, 42, of Tallahassee, is a program specialist for the Florida Department of Education.
Benedict Grzesik, 70, of Melbourne, is virtual adjunct faculty at the University of Maryland.
Victoria Magliocchino, 55, of St. Augustine, is a teacher at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind.
Donté Mickens, 32, of Delray Beach, is an insurance analyst with NCCI Holdings Inc.
Sylvia Stinson-Perez, 44, of Port Richey, is the executive director of Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind.
Christopher White, 39, of Tampa, is an attorney with Disability Rights Florida Law Firm.
Governor Scott Appoints Caine to Florida Coordinating Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Governor Rick Scott recently announced the appointment of Jeffrey Paul Caine to the Florida Coordinating Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Caine, 70, of Safety Harbor, is a hearing aid specialist at the St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute. He succeeds Randy M. Ellsworth and is appointed for a term beginning October 28, 2013, and ending July 31, 2014.
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