Denise Arnold Self-Advocacy Memorial Scholarship

The Denise Arnold Self-Advocacy Memorial Scholarship was developed to memorialize the contributions Denise made in the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities over a 31-year career in the field.

Denise Arnold earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy and worked for the state of Florida for more than 31 years in the developmental disabilities field. She was employed as Deputy Director of Programs for the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD), where she directly assisted tens of thousands of individuals with disabilities, always mindful of including self-advocates in everything the agency did. Her passion was contagious and unwavering for people with developmental disabilities. APD co-workers described Denise as "the heart and soul of the agency."

Denise Arnold spent her career making sure self-advocates and their families felt empowered and engaged. Denise’s strong advocacy and compassion for all individuals will be reflected in the issuance of the Denise Arnold Self-Advocacy Memorial Scholarship. Through this scholarship, we are seeking to cultivate innovative employment solutions for Floridians with developmental disabilities. We recognize that not all individuals with disabilities seek a traditional job. Some individuals would like the freedom and independence to be their own boss and run their own business. Starting a business can be an expensive and arduous process. Initial funding for a business idea can bridge the gap between a dream and reality. With a funding award of $9,590, the Denise Arnold Self-Advocacy Memorial Scholarship will offer a Micro-Enterprise grant for self-employment to a deserving entrepreneur with disabilities.

The scholarship will be awarded in September 2021 through a partnership with the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Florida Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, and the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.

How to Apply

The individual must be at least 21 years old and be a client of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) meaning the person may be on the waiver waiting list or iBudget Florida waiver.
To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants will need to work with their supports to provide a proposal showing how the funds will be used. Acceptable uses include but are not limited to salary, costs associated with business formation, marketing, materials, and equipment.
If awarded the scholarship, the individual recipient will be required to submit quarterly reports outlining activities, outcomes, and expended funds for the term of one year. Success is defined as formal creation of the business, production of product or services, marketing activities, and increasing sales or reach, documented through the quarterly reports provided by the awardee.
The deadline to apply is July 31.

Questions
For questions about the Denise Arnold Self-Advocacy Memorial Scholarship, please contact Courtney Swilley by email at cswilley@floridaarf.org.

Denise Arnold