APD Director Barbara Palmer and APD Emergency Coordination Officer Karen Hagan provide updates on the upcoming hurricane season from the state’s Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee, Florida.

Governor Ron DeSantis spoke at the 24th Annual Family Café in Orlando on May 27, 2022. The Family Café is the nation’s largest cross-disability annual event and connects people with unique abilities and their families with a variety of products, services, and resources. Watch video highlights.

APD Director Barbara Palmer joined former Senate President Bill Galvano and other state officials at The Family Café’s 24th Annual Governor’s Summit on Disabilities in Orlando, May 27, 2022. Watch video highlights.

The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) attended the 24th Annual Family Café, held at the Hyatt Regency Orlando May 27-29. Throughout the weekend, attendees were able to visit APDs information booth where they were able to ask questions and get information about services.

The Arc of the Bay’s Culinary Institute held spring graduation at Gulf Coast Community College, Panama City, Florida, May 13, 2022. Congratulations to Gunnar Armstrong, Drew Chagnon, Toby Pasman, Aaron Morris, Rachael Riccobene, Harrison Robards, and Kate Stanford.

After relocating to Florida from Washington D.C. in 2015, Jose Vallecillo’s number one priority was finding a job. With the assistance of Florida’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, a job coach from Helping People Succeed, and the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD), Vallecillo was able to find and keep the perfect job for him at Publix Super Market at Cornerstone in the Stuart shopping center.

APD employee Georgia Locastro competed in the 2022 Special Olympics State Summer Games on May 20 and 21. Georgia competed in the singles bocce and brought home a bronze medal.

APDs Southern Region gleefully welcomed the smiles and laughter of several children for the 2022 Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work Day event.

Life can be challenging and there are no promises or guarantees. However, it is how you face and cope with the challenges that makes all the difference. To say that Andre St. Hilaire has had it rough is an understatement.