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State Recognizes Disability-Friendly Companies

TALLAHASSEE, FL - The state of Florida recognized seven businesses today in Tallahassee for being exceptional employers of people with disabilities. The large celebration at Tallahassee City Hall, 300 South Adams Street, also kicked off October’s Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) Director Jim DeBeaugrine, Deputy Director of Blind Services John Clarkson, and Director of Vocational Rehabilitation Bill Palmer handed out the awards today, honoring the businesses for their commitment to hiring people with disabilities. Tallahassee Mayor John Marks welcomed people to the event and spoke about the city’s efforts to have a diverse work force.

The award-winning businesses were:

• ARAMARK Food Services of Tallahassee
• Childhood Development Services of Ocala
• European Street Café of Jacksonville
• LCI Industries with stores in Melbourne, Jacksonville, Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, and Milton
• Mathison Retirement Center of Panama City
• Zoo Miami
• TSE Industries of Clearwater

Governor Charlie Crist said, "I am proud that state government is a leader in providing job shadowing and employment opportunities to persons with disabilities. Floridians with disabilities are an important part of our state's work force, and I encourage Florida's business leaders and employers to learn more about how to better utilize this pool of untapped talent."

APD Director DeBeaugrine said, "I am thrilled to be a part of this exciting recognition event. These employers have shown their commitment to employing people with disabilities, which is a win-win for all. The business gets a dedicated, long-term employee, and the company gets a great return on its investment in that employee."

More information on the winners:

• ARAMARK Food Services of Tallahassee
  Aramark on Florida State University campus has participated in the Leon County Schools’ Community Based Work Experience (CBWE) program for approximately eight years. Due to ARAMARK’s participation in the program, over 200 students have obtained gainful work experience, which they were able to record on their applications when applying for jobs. ARAMARK is a leader in food services for colleges, universities, health care institutions, and detention facilities.
• Childhood Development Services of Ocala
  Childhood Development Services (CDS) has done an amazing job of setting up an On-the-Job Training (OJT) program and supervising the OJT of 18 customers with severe disabilities during the last 10 months. Although the 150 employees had little training in working with people with disabilities, they have excelled. The company has developed individual training modules for each trainee, modified job descriptions to accommodate trainees' abilities, and even provided one-on-one training in a computer program. CDS has trained people for receptionist, food services, security, central supply, back office, finance department, parent services, and intake positions.
• European Street Café of Jacksonville
  European Street Café is an outstanding company in Jacksonville. One employee with disabilities has worked at the European Street Cafe for more than 10 years. European Street Cafe has made this place a home for this individual. They all work together as a family. They treat her like any other staff member. The restaurant also has a great relationship with the community that it is serving. It truly is a great place to eat and visit.
• LCI Industries
  Working closely with the Division of Blind Services (DBS) offices, LCI operates eight retail office and military supply stores in Florida that employ
  13 legally blind employees. LCI has teamed up with the Daytona Beach DBS office to identify unemployed legally blind Floridians who are interested in working in LCI facilities outside the state. The partnership is in its infancy, but has already placed two people in LCI facilities. LCI is also currently exploring manufacturing opportunities in Florida and is discussing logistics with the Daytona DBS office.
  Founded as a nonprofit North Carolina corporation in 1936, LC Industries (LCI) is the largest employer of people who are blind in the United States. Affiliated with National Industries for the Blind, LCI is the largest and most successful of its 80 agencies. It operates 12 manufacturing sites, two distribution sites, six retail e-commerce sites, two informational e-commerce sites, and 31 retail facilities in 11 states.
  Headquartered in Durham, NC, LCI employs 416 blind and legally blind personnel which represent an 11 percent increase over the last year. Its manufacturing division employs 348 blind and legally blind personnel, distribution employs five, retail employs 54 and administration employs nine.
• Mathison Retirement Center of Panama City
  Mathison Retirement Center provides a great deal of natural supports to each employee. As a result of this team spirit, all five of the employees with disabilities have expressed a willingness to do whatever it takes to do a good job. They feel they are part of a winning team.
  The administrator of the Mathison Retirement Center, Jim O’Connor, personally conducted the interview with a customer and hired him immediately. That individual continues to work for the center and additionally the center has hired four more customers with disabilities. O’Connor has been extremely supportive of the program and believes that if a person is capable of doing the job they should be given the opportunity. This belief filters down through the ranks at Mathison Retirement Center.
  The Mathison Retirement Center in Panama City is one of several facilities owned and operated by the Methodist Homes Corporation of Alabama and Northwest Florida. This center opened in 2000 and offers a secure, assisted-living environment designed to meet the needs of persons enjoying their "Golden Years."
• Zoo Miami
  Zoo Miami teamed up with Project SEARCH, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and Best Buddies to put together an amazing program for
  students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Three participants are employees at the Oasis Grille inside the zoo. Two participants work part-time keeping the customer areas clean, refilling all condiments, snacks and refreshments, and assisting in the kitchen. One participant was moved up to a full-time position and received a raised within three months of employment.
  The zoo was created in 1948 and has developed into one of America’s 10 top zoos for many reasons. It houses over 100 exhibits, 740 total acres, over 3 miles of walkways, more than 2,000 animals, over 40 endangered species, and more than 1,000 species of trees and plants.
• TSE Industries of Clearwater
  TSE employs 180 people in 208,000 square feet of space. Of those employees, five are people with disabilities. Initially starting in custodial positions, TSE opens other positions to those who show interest and ability, such as one individual who was recently promoted to an operator position in the Engineered Polymers Division.
  TSE Industries goes the extra mile for its employees with disabilities. TSE Industries in Clearwater manufactures custom rubber and plastic fabrications, produces conveyor components, specialty chemicals, and Millathane® millable urethane rubber. TSE is a family-owned company established in 1960 by Walter and Helen Klingel with a 500-square-foot warehouse.

The agency annually serves about 35,000 Floridians with developmental disabilities of mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and Prader-Willi syndrome. For more information on the agency, call 1-866-APD-CAREs or visit http://apdcares.org.