APD > Employment and Adult Day Training Initiatives

Employment Enhancement Project (EEP)

APD has received a special appropriation for the past nine years to provide supported employment services to individuals on the APD Pre-enrollment List to find and maintain competitive employment and participate in meaningful internships that have a high likelihood of resulting in competitive employment.

The Legislature and Governor appropriated $1,000,000 to APD for FY 2021/22 to provide supported employment services to individuals who are on the APD Pre-enrollment List who would like to work. For each person who participates as a job seeker in the Employment Enhancement Project (EEP), APD will allocate funds to provide the following services: Supported Employment coaching to secure a good job match; Supported Employment follow-along services to help retain the job; assistance with transportation needed for work and securing paid internships as pathways to competitive employment.

Individuals meeting the criteria in any Florida county may be considered for participation in the EEP. The intent is for APD, local school districts, local workforce career centers, and other collaborating agencies and organizations to work together to assist young adults who are leaving school, and others who are currently on the APD Pre-enrollment List, to secure competitive employment. We anticipate having another very successful year of the EEP!

Adult Day Training (ADT) Initiatives

The Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD), in collaboration with a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-contracted technical assistance provider, New Editions, is working to increase opportunities for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities to access competitive community employment. To achieve this objective, APD is soliciting input from stakeholders, including self-advocates, family members, guardians, providers, APD, and other state agencies via a series of Stakeholder meetings. The purpose of these meetings is to assist APD in improving Adult Day Training (ADT) and employment-related services, funded by the Medicaid Developmental Disabilities Individual Budgeting (iBudget) Home and Community-Based Services Waiver and to support more individuals who want to work and participate in their community.  The meetings are held via GoToWebinar, and members of the public are welcome to listen in. Below is information related to each meeting held so far and future meetings. For more information, please send an email to: APD.Info@apdcares.org.

ADT and Employment Initiative Stakeholder Meetings

September 19, 2019

August 6, 2019

June 25, 2019

May 23, 2019

Department of Education - Career and Technical Education (CTE) Opportunities

On July 31, 2018, the President signed the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act into law. This bill reauthorizes the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins IV) and is referred to as Perkins V. The Florida Department of Education (DOE), Office of Career and Technical Education (CTE) manages programs for middle school, high school, district technical school, and Florida College System students throughout Florida. For more information on Career and Technical Education opportunities visit DOE’s website at: http://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu

Abilities Work

  • Abilities Work Flyer

  • Abilities Work Brochure

  • Employment First Interagency Cooperative Agreement - The general purpose of this interagency cooperative agreement is to provide a framework for a long-term commitment to improving employment outcomes for persons with disabilities in the State of Florida. The agencies and organizations that are parties to this agreement are fully committed to working together to improve the number and percentage of growth in competitive employment for individuals with disabilities.

Florida Unique Abilities Partner Program

The Florida Unique Abilities Partner Program recognizes businesses that are committed to providing career and financial opportunities to individuals with unique abilities and to assisting organizations that support them. Participating businesses demonstrate their dedication to strengthening communities and the economy by helping these Floridians with untapped talents become more independent and by partnering with other businesses, organizations and state resources in this endeavor. Be sure to visit their website at FloridaJobs.org.

Let's Get Everyone to Work: Resource Toolkit for Students and Families - Videos

THE HIRING CHAIN performed by STING | World Down Syndrome Day 2021

Supported Employment Links

Outstanding State Disability Employment Winners

The 2022 award-winning businesses were:

  • Beck Automotive Group
  • City of Cape Coral
  • Clearwater Marine Aquarium
  • Hilton Garden Inn Fort Walton Beach
  • Kohl’s Tallahassee
  • Lighthouse Works, Inc. of Orlando
  • Pinecrest Bakery of Miami
  • Pitney Bowes, Inc. of Jacksonville
  • Rise & Nye’s of Sarasota
  • Stenner Pump Company of Jacksonville
  • Winslow LifeRaft Company of Lake Suzy
  • Xtreme Action Park of Ft. Lauderdale

The 2021 award-winning businesses were:

  • Advance Auto Parts
  • Bob Sierra North Tampa YMCA
  • Dick’s Sporting Goods
  • Flagler College of St. Augustine and Aramark at Flagler College
  • Glory Days Grill
  • Golden Corral of Jacksonville
  • Helping Hands for Homemaking and Companionship, LLC
  • Sheraton Panama City Beach Golf and Spa Resort
  • Sonic Drive-In of Yulee
  • The Fresh Market of Aventura

The 2020 award-winning businesses were:

  • Blaze Pizza Store 1064 of Tallahassee
  • Lee County Library System
  • Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard of Lake Buena Vista
  • The Florida Bar
  • Whataburger #55 of Ft. Walton Beach
  • Youth Co-Op, Inc. of Miami

The 2019 award-winning businesses were:

  • Accuform Manufacturing
  • Aramark Dining Services at Jacksonville University
  • Army and Air Force Exchange Service
  • Bob’s Space Racers
  • Chartwells at the University of Miami
  • Cleveland Clinic Martin Health
  • The Home Depot
  • Florida Department of Revenue
  • Golden Corral
  • The Chocolate Spectrum
  • Wawa, Inc.
  • ZVRS of Clearwater

The 2018 award-winning businesses were:

  • Edibles by Ethel
  • Firehouse Subs
  • Florida Department of Law Enforcement
  • Hilton Ocala
  • Lucky’s Market
  • Paisley Cafe
  • Rising Tide Car Wash
  • SolarTech Universal
  • The Village at Gainesville
  • Treasure Bay Resort & Marina
  • Vinny & Bay’s Coffee and Eatery
  • World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort

The 2017 award-winning businesses were:

  • Boca Raton Resort and Club
  • Cunningham Pest Control of Palm Beach County
  • Dosatron of Clearwater
  • Embassy Suites of Ft. Lauderdale
  • Martin Health System of Stuart
  • Piggly Wiggly of Quincy
  • Planet Fitness of Panama City
  • Publix
  • Sodexo (Tallahassee, St. Petersburg, and Daytona Beach)
  • The Women’s Center of Central Florida

The 2016 award-winning businesses were:

  • Barrette Outdoor Living (Brooksville)
  • Bealls
  • Flowers Baking Company of Jacksonville LLC
  • Greenspoon Marder (Fort Lauderdale)
  • Humane Society of Bay County Thrift and Gift Store (Panama City)
  • Mantiques Clock Shop (Inverness)
  • The Pickle Baron of Key West
  • The Print Shop (Naples)
  • Rosen Shingle Creek Resort (Orlando)
  • Walgreens

The 2015 award-winning businesses were:

  • Kilwins Jacksonville
  • LEGOLAND Florida (Winter Haven)
  • Lowe’s Home Improvement 
  • Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department
  • OfficeMax/Office Depot
  • Popeyes (Panama City)
  • 3 Daughters Brewing (St. Petersburg)
  • Winter Park Memorial Hospital

Success Story News Releases