Message from the Director
Torch Run Hits the Road
By Mike Hansen
I participated in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics for the first time on April 3. Running is one of my passions and so is promoting exercise. I believe taking part in athletic events helps people of all abilities both physically and mentally.
More than 100 law enforcement officers, along with other supporters of the Special Olympics, ran for about two miles from Lake Ella in Tallahassee to the Capitol Courtyard. Governor Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater all ran with the large group to the Capitol. Many of us, including people with disabilities, got the opportunity to carry the Flame of Hope during the run, which gave extra special meaning to the event to me.
A huge crowd waited in the courtyard for the arrival of the flame. When the runners reached the courtyard, there was a big cheer. I was excited to be a part of this Special Olympics event. Gov. Scott and many other dignitaries made remarks talking about the value that the Special Olympics competition brings to its athletes. A huge check for more than $2 million was presented to Special Olympics officials at the ceremony. The major sponsors were Publix Supermarkets and Proctor and Gamble.
APD should encourage our customers who are able to get and stay active in sports. I feel it has made a huge difference in my life, and can attest to its many benefits. The Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games will be in Orlando on May 18 and I will be there when the Flame of Hope makes its way to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World. I am looking forward to seeing all the athletes and know that they will benefit from their involvement no matter the outcome of the competition.
Clicking on most photos will open a larger version.
APD Announces New Regional Directors
The Director of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) Michael Hansen announced today his selection of six regional administrators to lead the agency’s programs around the state.
APD is restructuring its statewide operations to increase efficiencies beginning July 1 due to a legislative funding reduction. The agency is moving from 14 areas to six regions.
The APD regional directors are:
- Lynne Daw for the Northwest Region
- Gayle Granger for the Northeast Region
- Merari Perez for the Central Region
- Geri Williams for the Suncoast Region
- Gerry Driscoll for the Southeast Region
- Evelyn Alvarez for the Southern Region
Hansen said, "I am excited to have these dedicated public servants with outstanding leadership skills to direct our regional operations. Each one of these people has a proven track record of strong leadership and responsiveness to our customers. I look forward to working with them to continue to improve our service and operations in the future."
Over the next two months, agency leadership will determine the operating structure of the regional offices and the location of field offices throughout the state.
Community Outreach Efforts Head South
April 12 and 13 brought APD External Affairs Director Hue Reynolds to areas 10 and 11 for two engaging community outreach meetings. On the 12th, about 35 Area 11 stakeholders and Family Care Council members met with Reynolds in Miami to share information on the issues that individuals with disabilities and their families are experiencing. The two-hour long discussion included brainstorming on ways to incorporate more community resources to help support their loved ones, while also sharing ideas to improve agency processes.
On Friday the 13th, nearly 100 Area 10 community members met at ARC Broward for the monthly Family Care Council meeting. The meeting then dovetailed into a community discussion addressing some of the region's concerns about transportation, transition, education, and awareness, just to name a few.
The information and resources shared at both meetings will be included in an enhanced version of APD's online resource directory. Some of the ideas shared may serve as a starting point for developing action plans for communities to better address the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities.
APD's External Affairs unit will continue to visit with Family Care Councils and area offices to conduct stakeholder meetings over the next few months. In May, meetings are scheduled for areas 7, 8, 9, 13, and 15. Stay tuned to The Champion for more updates!
Commission on Jobs Meets
The Governor's Commission on Jobs for Floridians with Disabilities met on April 27 at Florida State College at Jacksonville. Agency for Persons with Disabilities Director Mike Hansen is a member of the commission. Commission Co-Chair Dr. Steve Wallace, who is president of FSCJ, hosted the meeting.
Several representatives from local businesses that are involved in the First Coast Business Leadership Network (FCBLN) were in attendance, and several of them offered their thoughts on including people with disabilities in the workforce. One of the speakers was Chris Oakley with the FCBLN. He shared some of the successes FCBLN has had with arranging internships. The commission plans to research internship programs as a possible recommendation when drafting its report to Governor Scott, due this summer.
Ability Awards Deadline Nears
There's still time to submit nominations for the 2012 Ability Awards, sponsored by The Able trust. The deadline for nominations is May 9. This annual awards program recognizes individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions toward the employment of Florida citizens with disabilities.
Visit www.abletrust.org to download a nomination packet. The forms can be submitted via mail, fax, or email. Complete instructions are contained in the packet. The awards will be presented during a luncheon on June 15 in Tallahassee.
Tacachale Gets Energy Makeover
By Rob Risley, FPL Services
APD's Tacachale Center in Gainesville recently had a major upgrade in its electricity and utility systems to take advantage of the efficiencies of modern technology. Through a partnership between APD and FPL Services, LLC (FPLS), a subsidiary of Florida Power & Light Company, most of the buildings on the center's campus as well as the adjacent Seguin forensic unit were renovated.
About 65 separate residential and office facilities were upgraded and retrofitted with energy-efficient systems designed to improve performance, simplify maintenance, and increase comfort levels for staff and residents, while saving money for the agency. The improved structures add up to about 630,000 square feet of floor space.
"Though required maintenance had been performed and modifications had been made to individual facilities over the years, upgrading Tacachale's electrical, lighting, water, and HVAC systems was similar to renovating all those systems for an entire small town," said Tacachale Center Administrator Michael S. Mayfield.
Under a traditional contract, these necessary improvements would likely have been out of the financial reach of the agency. However, because the project was done with an energy savings performance contract, no capital appropriations were required. The energy savings that result from the upgrades will pay for the project. In fact, under this type of contract, the savings are guaranteed. Additional savings will be realized through reduced maintenance and repair costs, rebates, metering configurations, and distribution upgrades negotiated with the local utility.
"Given the current economic climate, the state has done a great job of keeping these facilities safe and operational, but the improvements were a much needed step," said APD General Services Manager Stephen Boley. "Without the guaranteed savings and the public/private partnership between us and FPLS, these energy saving improvements probably could not have been undertaken."
This project was successful for another important reason—all the work had to be done while the center continued its day-to-day operations in housing and caring for its residents with developmental disabilities. With the work now completed, residents and staff members are enjoying a more comfortable environment. Meanwhile, APD will benefit from guaranteed savings of more than $400,000 per year averaged over 16 years, for total savings of nearly $6.5 million.
Around the State
Workshop Held for Job Seekers
Students with disabilities in the Escambia and Santa Rosa county school districts had a chance to sharpen their interviewing skills on April 12. That's when mock-interview workshops were held during the Student Transition Fair at the University of West Florida (UWF) in Pensacola.
A total of 350 students attended the Student Transition Fair. Sixty of them participated in mock interviews conducted by representatives from United Parcel Service (UPS), Verteks, Wal-Mart, Highpointe Hotel Corporation, and the UWF Career Center. APD's Area 1 office joined both school districts and UWF in sponsoring the workshops. They wish to express appreciation to the participating organizations for giving positive feedback in the workshops that helped to build the students' interviewing skills and overall confidence.
There was a bonus outcome, as frequently happens at events such as this; Wal-Mart and UPS identified several students for potential employment by their companies!
Abilities Awareness Day Held in Miami
By Michael Cardello
Ability Awareness Day was held at Miami Dade College on April 11. The annual community awareness event is hosted by the college's Project Access Program, led by Dr. Kenneth Marquard. Ability Awareness Day highlights the abilities of persons with disabilities and educates community partners about their potential in earning, learning, serving, and living in the community.
The event lived up to its goals of sharing resources and information among agencies serving persons with disabilities, developing partnerships, identifying initiatives, learning from presenters, and growing professionally.
J.R. Harding, Ed.D., of APD's External Affairs Office in Tallahassee, gave two inspirational and educational presentations. The first, entitled "Connecting Community Resources," covered APD's new strategic plan as well as resources like the Family Care Council, Billy Joe Rish Park, the Employment First Initiative, and the Aging and Disability Resource Centers. The second was more personal in nature, as Harding recounted his life's journey, challenges, and achievements. Both presentations were extremely well received.
Also, various Miami Dade College dignitaries were honored in an awards ceremony, and special recognition was given to Paul Martell of Volunteer Florida and Beth Morgan of Terremark Worldwide, Inc.
A video entitled "Identifying Human Potential" showcased a number of employed persons with disabilities as well as testimonials from employers. The video and supporting materials will be presented to local chambers of commerce.
Ability Awareness Day is the annual culmination of efforts of the Association of Agencies (AoA), which meets monthly at Miami Dade College. Participating organizations include APD, Vocational Rehabilitation, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Miami Children's Hospital, South Florida Workforce, IRS, and various AmeriCorps units. This year's event was inspirational and motivational to all who attended. It set the bar yet higher for the AoA to continue in developing ways to support persons with disabilities.
Easter Gifts, APD Style!
By Kim Meyer
The Area 12 APD office in Daytona Beach was happy to be a part of an entrepreneur's new business. Charlie Morris, an Area 12 waiting list participant, has started a balloon gift business. Morris is working closely with his mother, and the two are bringing a lot of color and smiles to their customers. Several APD employees purchased Easter-themed balloon gifts from Morris; they look forward to his growing company's ever-increasing selection.
Great job, Charlie!
Expo Is Held and Spring Is Flung!
By Martha Roman-BlancoOn Saturday, March 31, individuals and families took in valuable information, food, and even dancing during the Differently Abled Expo and Spring Fling. The enjoyable event was held at Florida Atlantic University in Port St. Lucie, sponsored by the Area 15 Family Care Council (FCC), FAU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD), WaiverProvider.com, and APD's Area 15 office.
FCC co-chairs Lisa McGlone and Kathy Allore shared information with families and accepted applications for membership. They also donated incontinence supplies and a shower chair for individuals served on the waiting list. APD Area 15 Administrator Gerry Driscoll provided updates on current issues and future plans. Aaron Nangle of WaiverProvider.com spoke to families about the resources available on the Internet that may be of benefit to them.
In addition, a wealth of information was available for families, including breakout sessions on Medicaid, Social Security, Vocational Rehabilitation, Centers for Independent living, transition, guardianship options, and much more.
The event ended with participants dancing to the beat of music spun by a DJ. Pizza and soda were provided for all. Everyone that attended had an enjoyable and wonderful time.
Autism Fair Held in Sarasota
By Donna Fain
The first annual Autism Fair, sponsored by Face Autism, took place on Saturday, April 21, at Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School in Sarasota. The fair was a wonderful opportunity for families to explore the resources for autism that are available in the Suncoast Area.
More than 42 agencies and organizations participated in the successful event. The large community turnout included families familiarizing themselves with community resources. Also, there were door prizes, games, balloon figures, and face painting. The Autism Fair was part of a month-long celebration of Autism Awareness Month.
Suncoast Office Welcomes Chief of Staff
By Glorie Singleton and Cheryl Blackwell-Cox
The Suncoast Area office in Tampa welcomed APD Chief of Staff Barbara Palmer for a visit at the end of April. Palmer discussed several initiatives and agency updates including iBudget Florida and resource development. She also distributed copies of the agency's Strategic Plan, talked about the committees that are developing and implementing it, and invited staff members to join the committee of their choice.
Palmer also assisted Area Administrator Geri Williams in presenting Certificates of Appreciation to the administrative support staff in recognition of Administrative Professionals' Day.
"This day is very important because we recognize that our support staff is the heartbeat of the agency," said Williams.
Williams and Palmer also presented certificates to members of the area's newly formed Outreach Team charged with "Connecting to the Community."
Palmer's visit to the area and the opportunity to share job duties, concerns, and ideas were very important to staff members. Employees also enjoyed sending a "shout out" to APD Director Mike Hansen when he called during the meeting to speak with Palmer.
During her visit, Palmer met with area providers, support coordinators, Family Care Council, and Steering Committee members.
Tampa Gears Up for Success
By Glorie Singleton
The Second Annual Gear Up for Success event was held on March 30 at the Tampa Bay Workforce Center in Tampa. The annual event provided an opportunity for continued mentoring and networking experiences for students and job seekers with disabilities. Several business partners and more than 70 Disability Mentoring Day mentees attended the event.
Event presentations included "DMD Opportunities and Success," "Put Your Best Foot Forward – Interviewing and Dressing for Success," "Resume Writing – How to Make Your Resume Shine," and "Networking – How to Leave a Lasting Impression." Presenters included Greta Dupuy, associate diversity development specialist, Publix Super Markets, and Josie Ballard, professional networking group manager/recruiter, Tampa Bay Workforce.
APD's Suncoast Area office is proud to be represented on the Hillsborough County Disability Mentoring Day Steering Committee, which hosted the event.
FloridaHealthFinder.gov Is New and Improved
You are probably already familiar with FloridaHealthFinder.gov. The site, maintained by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), provides health care information and tools for comparing health care facilities and providers. There is a fresh, new look to the site, complementing its newly expanded features and functions.
Highlights include the Facility/Provider Locator tool, which allows users to find Florida hospitals, home health agencies, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and other providers licensed by AHCA; a variety of quality of care and pricing comparison tools; the Medicaid link, which provides answers to many questions and includes links to Web content; the Medical Help Resources section, which lists programs that provide information, referral, direct medical care, or help with medical costs and other expenses; thousands of articles, illustrations, and videos in the Health Encyclopedia and Symptom Navigator sections; and information on the Florida Health Information Network and the Florida Medicaid Incentive Program on the Researchers and Professional side of the site.
Visit FloridaHealthFinder.gov to see what kind of information you can find. There is also a Contact Us link for sending your comments to AHCA.
Sparkling on the Job
By Melanie Mowry EttersThe Ringling College of Art and Design is known for the beautiful paintings in its gallery and teaching budding artists to improve their skills. When it is time for students to recharge their batteries with a delicious meal, they head to the cafeteria on the Sarasota campus where they may find Katie Clarke serving a meal or in the back washing up the day's dishes. Clarke has developmental disabilities and is an APD customer.
Clarke enjoys the opportunity to interact with the students. "My favorite part of the job is when I get to fill in for servers in the cafeteria," says Clarke. Her primary duty is being a dishwasher, which she has done for 13 years.
Executive Chef Steve Sidway says, "Katie is a great worker, has a wonderful sense of humor, and is someone who truly enjoys her job. Having Katie in the kitchen has made a real difference."
Although Clarke uses public transportation, she is consistently at work on time and does not miss her shift five days a week. When not working, Clarke attends the Suncoast Center for Independent Living where she is learning office skills like typing.
Champion Staff
Melanie Mowry Etters - Editor
Jeff Saulich - Writer and Photo Editor
Lloyd Harger - Web Development