2015 Disability Employment Awareness Month/Disability Mentoring Day

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1 Alachua Baker Bay Bradford Brevard Broward Calhoun Charlotte Citrus Clay Collier Columbia DeSoto Dixie Duval Escambia Flagler Franklin Gadsden Gilchrist Glades Gulf Hamilton Hardee Hendry Hernando Highlands Hillsborough Holmes Indian River Jackson Jefferson Lafayette Lake Lee Leon Levy Liberty Madison Manatee Marion Manatee Marion Martin Miami-Dade Monroe Nassau Okaloosa Okeechobee Orange Osceola Palm Beach Pasco Pinellas Polk Putnam Santa Rosa Sarasota Seminole St. Johns St. Lucie Sumter Suwannee Taylor Union Volusia Wakulla Walton Washington Alachua Baker bay Bradford Brevard Broward Calhoun Charlotte Citrus Clay Collier Columbia DeSoto Dixie Escambia Flagler Franklin Gadsden Gilchrist Glades Gulf Hamilton Hardee Hendry Hernando Highlands Hillsborough Holmes Indian River Jackson Jefferson Lafayette Florida Disability Lake Lee Employment Leon Levy Liberty Awareness Madison Month Manatee Marion Martin Maimi-Dade Monroe 2015 Nassau Summary Okaloosa Report Okeechobee Orange Palm Beach Pasco Pinellas Polk Putnam Santa Rosa Sarasota Seminole St. Johns St. Lucie Sumter Suwannee Taylor Union Volusia Wakulla Walton Washington Alachua Baker Bay Bradford Brevard Broward Calhoun Charlotte Citrus Clay Collier Columbia DeSoto Dixie Duval Escambia Flagler Gadsden Gilchrist Glades Gulf Hamilton Hardee Hendry Hernando Highlands Hillsborough Holmes Indian River Jackson Jefferson Lafayette Lake Lee Leon Levy Liberty Madison Manatee Marion Martin Miami-Dade Monroe Nassau Okaloosa Okeechobee Orange Osceola Palm Beach Pasco Pinellas Polk Putnam Santa Rosa Sarasota Seminole St. Johns St. Lucie Sumter Suwannee Taylor Union Volusia Wakulla Walton Washington Alachua Baker Bay Bradford Brevard Broward Calhoun Charlotte Citrus Clay Collier Columbia DeSoto Dixie Duval Escambia Flagler Franklin Gadsden Gilchrist Glades Gulf Hamilton Hardee Hernando Highlands Holmes Indian River Jackson Jefferson Lafayette Lake Lee Leon Levy Liberty Madison Manatee Marion Martin Miami-Dade Monroe Nassau Okaloosa Okeechobee Orange Osceola Palm Beach Pasco Pinellas Polk Putnam Santa Rosa Sarasota Seminole St. Johns St. Lucie Sumter Suwannee Taylor Union Volusia Wakulla Walton Washington Alachua Baker Bay Bradford Brevard Broward Calhoun Charlotte Citrus Clay Collier Columbia DeSoto Dixie Duval Escambia Flagler Franklin Gadsden Gilchrist Glades Gulf Hamilton Hardee Hendry Hernando Highlands Hillsborough Holmes Indian River Jackson Jefferson Lafayette Lake Lee Leon Levy Liberty Madison Manatee Marion Martin Miami-Dade Monroe Nassau Okaloosa Okeechobee Orange Osceola Palm Beach Pasco Pinellas Polk Put

2 2015 Disability Employment Awareness Month/Disability Mentoring Day This is the 15 th year of Florida Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM) being celebrated in Florida. The goal of DEAM is to recognize the contributions and capabilities of workers with disabilities and to highlight the continued need for a diverse and inclusive workforce. DEAM introduces businesses on an individual basis to people with disabilities to begin a dialogue of the capabilities of these talented individuals. This allows businesses to interact with students and job seekers with disabilities in a less formal workplace environment, simultaneously changing misperceptions and increasing their knowledge and comfort level working with people with disabilities. In Florida, DEAM encompasses an entire season beginning in September and lasting into February. It is the goal to have career exploration activities take place year-round, increasing the opportunity for employment of individuals with disabilities. Participants of DEAM are provided a number of different career exploration activities including, one-on-one job shadowing, group site visits, career preparation workshops and career fairs. The type of activities available to participants is determined by participating businesses and community liaisons working to arrange events throughout the state. DEAM activities provide participants the opportunity to gain insight into a particular career field or job. These interactions enable students and young job seekers to network and better prepare themselves as applicants in the workforce. The programs of The Able Trust aim to empower and educate people with disabilities so they become employed and that is the reason The Able Trust has proudly coordinated Florida DEAM for the past 15 years. Integral to the success of Florida DEAM are the many dedicated community liaisons throughout the state, and importantly, the businesses and organizations that open their doors to participants. Promotion of the activities, financial support, and active participation in DEAM activities was also provided by 13 committed organizations and individuals, who all elected to fund the 2016 campaign highlighting DEAM in Florida. Created by the Florida Legislature in 1990 the Florida Endowment Foundation for Vocational Rehabilitation, parent organization of The Able Trust, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public/private partnership. Its mission is to be a key leader in providing Floridians with disabilities opportunities for successful employment. Richard L. Cole Jr., Esq. and Barbara Cole The Able Trust 3320 Thomasville Road, Suite 200 Tallahassee, FL ph info@abletrust.org

3 A Synopsis of Florida DEAM Activities 2015 DEAM was made possible due to the hard work of 80 community liaisons working in 62 counties throughout Florida. Together with over 180 businesses and organization partners, they were able to provide career exploration opportunities to 1900 participants. Breakdown of Industries Participation Public Sector (local, state government, nonprofit) 32% Service (includes utilities) 20% Professional (includes medical professions) 18% Hospitality (includes restaurants, hotels, attractions) 14% Retail (includes grocery stores) 8% Manufacturing 8% 2015 DEAM Businees Participation by Industry Public Sector Manufacturing Hospitality Retail Professional Service Other Item of Note The data is accurate as of publishing of the report. Additional activities may have occurred post publishing and are not reflected above.

4 Participants of DEAM are provided a number of different career exploration activities including one-on-one job shadowing, group site visits, career preparation workshops and career fairs. The type of activities available to participants is determined by participating businesses and community liaisons working to arrange events throughout the state. The following highlights are just a few examples of the DEAM experiences that occurred throughout the state. Pinellas County On October 23 rd, The Home Depot Pinellas Park store hosted the first DEAM event in Pinellas County for the year. The Home Depot store manager Brian Brooks along with department heads, store associates and several vendors treated participants in Pinellas County to a start-to-finish tour, employee orientation, hands-on planting, painting, kitchen-design demonstrations, hiring tips, and Q & A. Participants were provided a valuable workplace experience and were exposed to every phase of a major retail operation: from shipping and receiving, safety, customer service; merchandising and inventory, to cashiering, employee hours and pay, and stock options. A DEAM participant learns how to mix paint Hendry and Glades Counties Participants in Hendry and Glades counties were treated to a very sweet tour of the Harold P Curtis Honey Company in LaBelle. Participants learned extensively about bees: their role in the environment, life span, honey production and what attracts them. Curtis Honey Company toured the participants through their production facility, even allowing them to work the honey tap. At the day s conclusion all participants were provided with a bottle of honey. DEAM participants pour honey into containers for distribution. Kennedy Space Center ~ Brevard County This was the 15 th year Kennedy Space Center (KSC) participated in Florida DEAM, and one of the largest events to date. KSC initially planned for 50 participants, but 58 ended up registering! Participants came from Brevard, Orange, Osceola and Hillsborough counties. Participants were paired with an employee of KSC or one of the many private contractors that work on site. In all, mentors were recruited from 14 different areas of KSC and 14 private contractors. At the conclusion of the event all participants were provided with a gift bag from KSC filled with NASA memorabilia to commemorate their DEAM experience. A DEAM participant works with their mentor, a NASA engineer Broward County The ARC of Broward County hosted its 3 rd annual Dispelling the Myths Employment seminar in celebration of Florida DEAM. The seminar was attended by 28 different businesses and had over 60 people in attendance. The seminar featured seven guest speakers from various organizations and businesses to discuss the benefits and importance of hiring people with disabilities. The seminar was highlighted by keynote speaker, Joel Sonnenberg, a motivational speaker and pastor who received burns over 85% of his body as a child in a tragic car accident. Joel Sonnenberg, second from left at seminar

5 Palm Beach County The Archer Disability Foundation has participated in DEAM from its inception working with Palm Beach County Schools to provide career experiences for students with disabilities. This year the Foundation developed a partnership with the Veteran s Administration Medical Center in West Palm Beach to provide one-on-one job shadowing for 50 students. Participants were able to learn first-hand about the VA and the important role they play in the lives of America s veterans. Elizabeth Santiago from the VA with Rose Lee and Pat Archer Collier & Lee Counties Goodwill of Southwest Florida worked with the local school systems and statewide sponsor, Publix Supermarkets, to provide DEAM experiences to over 90 participants at nine stores throughout Lee and Collier counties. Publix employees provided an in-depth tour of the stores, as well as all the job positions available at Publix, including retail and corporate positions. Students were provided hands-on time in various store areas to experience employee daily job tasks. At the conclusion several students filled out an application for employment. Publix has consistently been a strong supporter of DEAM and the employment of individuals with disabilities throughout the organization. Publix DEAM in Lee County Bay County This was Bay County s eighth year of participating in DEAM. Approximately 80 participants spent the morning job shadowing at a local business of their choice followed by a luncheon provided by Publix Supermarkets and Olive Garden. Participants were able to participate in mock interviews and career preparation workshops. Over 20 businesses participated in DEAM in Bay County this year! Participants during a mock interview Sarasota County Goodwill Manasota and the Gulfcoast CEO Forum partnered to present the results of an independent study, State of Employment, during a luncheon attended by nearly 200 community members on October 23. They examined the current employment numbers and the forecast for jobs in the Sarasota /Manatee community over the next 3-5 years for veterans and persons with disabilities. Bob Rosinsky, Goodwill Manasota CEO, with attendees of the luncheon

6 olo Duval County The Independent Living Resource Center brought 13 students from Westside High School to Olive Garden for a behind-the-scenes tour on Monday, Oct 26. Students toured the kitchen, learned about food prep and assisted in the preparation of food items. The site visit provided the students, who are part of an Autism program, the opportunity to network with local business managers and learn important skills for future employment opportunities. Participants get hands-on experience prepping breadsticks for Olive Garden Orange County Orange County Public Schools had 10 businesses involved in their DEAM activities which created opportunities for over 300 students to have a career exploration experience. Students visited industry job sites such as Kennedy Space Center, Regal Boats, Valencia College, Orlando Tech/Mid Florida Tech, the Information Technology and Security conference, Nautique Boats, The Melrose Center, and Custom Metal Designs. Additionally students were able to take part in career readiness workshops. Upholstery department at Nautique Boats TD Bank TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank was proud to host individuals with disabilities at various locations in Florida to celebrate DEAM. Participants were matched with workplace mentors according to their career interests and experienced a typical day on the job working at TD. Among the number of on-the-job activities aimed to help prepare participants to enter the workplace, participants were able to engage with real customers, greeting them by name at the drive-thru and letting them know about TD Bank's latest credit card promotion. At some locations, DEAM started off in memorable fashion with WOW! Patrols, TD Bank's employee recognition event. This gave mentees a true taste of the Bank's unique WOW! culture. One sentiment echoed broadly was that DEAM was a great experience for everyone involved. "The participants learned a lot about what we offer at TD Bank, but it was a great learning experience for Employees as well," said Karen Griffiths, senior HR manager. "We saw firsthand the talents and skills individuals with disabilities offer and learned about the accommodations we can make in the workplace." Wakulla County On November 5, 2015 MacKenzie, a 9th grade student from Wakulla High School job shadowed with the Tallahassee mayor s office. MacKenzie has this to say of her experience: Thank you for giving me the opportunity to shadow Mayor Gillum. I had a chance to see many aspects of city government while I was there. I also attended his meetings which helped me understand what a mayor does. The mayor is a busy man and I appreciate his willingness to provide time just for me. MacKenzie hopes to have a career in the FBI and believes she will benefit from this experience. Honorable Andrew Gillum, Mayor of Tallahassee with MacKenzie