Volusia County’s Disability Employment Awareness Month Event

By Belinda Hoyt

The Volusia Community Transition Team (VCTT) presented their annual Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM) and Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) event in the University of Central Florida’s auditorium on the Daytona State College campus. The VCTT consists of the following agencies and organizations: Agency for Persons with Disabilities, Adaptive Technology Solutions, CARD, disAbility Solutions for Independent Living, Duvall Homes, Division of Blind Services, Easter Seals, FDLRS, Project 10, Special Olympics Volusia – Flagler, The Arc of Volusia, United Way, Vocational Rehabilitation, Volusia County Schools, and WORC/Sunrise Communities.

The purpose of the DEAM/DMD annual event is to give individuals with disabilities an opportunity to meet and greet representatives from local businesses. Local businesses that currently hire individuals with disabilities are acknowledged as "exceptional employers".

This year, one of our guest speakers was Ms. Wheelchair Florida 2018 Shavaughn Barnes. She spoke about motivating individuals with disabilities to strive to reach their dreams. Barnes tutors students for a private school and consults with businesses about accommodating employees with disabilities into their work environment.