America’s Workforce: Empowering ALL

The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) Northwest Region partnered with Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and the Escambia County School District to facilitate an “America’s Workforce: Empowering ALL” event on October 19, at Marcus Pointe Baptist Church in Pensacola. Students with disabilities were transported to the event as a field trip.

APD employees opened the workshop with a presentation on Life Skills as they relate to work. Representatives from Landrum, Walmart, Lowe’s, Goodwill Easter Seals of the Gulf Coast, Publix, the school district, and Emerald Coast Utility Authority were on site providing mock interviews for the students. The employers were impressed and asked several students to start the application for employment process.

Lisa Drew with Goodwill Easter Seals of the Gulf Coast provided a session on money tips, along with models and clothing for the lunchtime fashion show on how to dress on a budget. Tanisha Thompson and Kimberly Pace with the Florida Department of Health demonstrated exercises while sitting as they played chair bingo. Dorothy Lee with the University of Florida IFAS extension demonstrated preparation of a healthy snack. Leslie Donovan with the Gulf Coast Kids House shared bullying prevention tips. Angela Walden and Linda Roush with Escambia County Area Transit shared information on public transportation and transportation for individuals with disabilities. The students and their teachers had a fun-filled morning acquiring tools promoting employment for students with disabilities. The event was one of many October events celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Front: Chasidy Hooks (Goodwill Easter Seals), Annette Zeeb (APD), Carol Archie (VR), Ruth Holman (VR), Patricia Madison (VR). Second: Mike Dwyer (Lowe’s), Savedra Badilishamwalimu (Landrum), Muriel Merritt (Publix), Flores Pedro (Publix). Third: Elaine McCabe, Evelyn Langmaid, and Greg Isbell with VR.