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Director's ColumnBy Barbara Palmer | |
 As many of you are aware, Florida’s Legislative Session is in full swing. I have been at the Capitol talking to various Legislators and their employees about the needs of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD). |
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 Cabinet Declared Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month | |
| Attorney General Pam Bondi introduced a resolution at the Florida Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, March 14, declaring the month of March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in Florida. |
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 Developmental Disabilities Day at the Capitol | |
| The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council and the Arc of Florida hosted Developmental Disabilities Day at the Capitol on March 21. |
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Public Transportation and Transportation Disadvantaged Legislative Awareness Day | |
| Public Transportation and Transportation Disadvantaged Legislative Awareness Day drew many to the Capitol on March 15. In the courtyard, exhibitors, including the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, had displays and information available. |
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 Children's Day | |
| Children of all ages flooded the Capitol on March 28 for the Children’s Day event. Vendors and exhibitors filled the courtyard with interactive displays, informational materials, and promotional items, while children enjoyed face painting, photo booths, and other activities. |
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 Senior Day | |
| On March 29, Florida seniors, sponsors, non-profit organizations, and state agencies came together at the Capitol for Florida Senior Day. Florida Senior Day is a collaborative event designed to bring together hundreds of corporate, philanthropic, and non-profit organizations with "One Voice" to support the full spectrum of services and needs of Florida seniors and their families. |
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 Lifted and Loaded | |
| Sean Canning is happy to do the heavy lifting at the Home Depot in Pace. Canning works as a loader assisting shoppers who need assistance putting bulky items in their cars. He also works as a store associate greeting people entering the store, keeping the vending machine stocked, and helping the store stay tidy. |
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Disability Employment AwarenessJulius puts his talents to work at Farmer, Jaffe, and Weissing Law Firm by doing data entry and scanning documents. “At the end of the day, it’s good…to think about what I’ve accomplished,” said Julius. Learn more about Julius here:  | |
Around the State | |
 Tacachale Bombers’ Road to the Gold! | |
| On March 15, Tacachale’s basketball team, the Taca Bombers, was recognized with a “Road to the Gold” victory celebration in honor of their milestone achievement in winning the Gold Medal for Team Skills in the Florida Special Olympics, North Region competition held earlier this year. |
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 Saint Patrick’s Day Shamrock Shindig | |
| With a wee bit o’ luck and gold dust from the end of the rainbow, Tacachale’s Facility 4&8 staff hosted a center-wide St. Patrick’s Day Dance on March 17! |
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 Michael “Kaleb” Dees: Bringing His Positive Attitudes to Publix’s Team | |
| Holding down a good job in a large corporation is a challenge for most young people, but 26-year-old Michael “Kaleb” Dees makes it look easy. |
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 APD Southeast Region Staff Speak to Broward County School District | |
| On February 1, Stacy Wolfe of the Broward County School District invited APD to speak to the teachers during Transition training. |
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Take Me Home Program | |
| Sergeant Jimmy Donohoe presented information on the “Take Me Home” program at the Area One Family Care Council monthly meeting on March 16. |
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 Employment Empowers People | |
| The annual Escambia School District Transition Services Information Fair was held on March 3, at Marcus Pointe Baptist Church in Pensacola. |
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Family Café | |
| The Agency for Persons with Disabilities will have speakers at 17 different presentations at the 19th Annual Family Café. |
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Empower Florida | |
| APD Director Barbara Palmer will be a keynote speaker at the Empower Florida conference in Miami June 9-10. |
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Champion Staff | |
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