Events

Disability Calendar of Events | Annual Gala | Ability Awards

Ability Awards 2005

The Able Trust Honors Best Disability Practices Among Individuals & Organizations

Congratulations to the Winners of the 2005 Ability Awards

Businesses and individuals around the state were honored for their employment, leadership and service to Florida citizens with disabilities at The Able Trust’s annual Ability Awards program in March in Orlando, Florida. This year’s award recipients were nominated by members of their community for going above and beyond the legal compliances of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and demonstrating a clear and conscious effort to be “disability-friendly”.

“Each award winner has encouraged people with disabilities in their quest to gain and maintain employment, “ said Kristen Knapp, APR Vice President of Public Relations for The Able Trust. “We recognized these individuals and employers for seeing the value that Floridians with disabilities have to contribute to the workforce.”

The 2005 Ability Awards winners are listed below by category:

The Employer of the Year Award that recognizes businesses with an exceptional record of disability friendly practices, including hiring persons with disabilities, making reasonable accommodations and demonstrating efforts beyond simple compliance with state or federal ADA laws. This year’s recipients include:

• Small Employer of the Year (1-49 employees) - Steak ‘n Shake Restaurant (pictured above left), Sarasota, FL
• Medium Employer of the Year (50-99 employees) - Grocery Outlet, Marianna, FL
• Large Employer of the Year (100+ employees) - Cox Communications Gulf Coast, Pensacola, FL

Faith Dolin Jones of Boca Raton was honored this year as the recipient of the Youth Leader Award. This award recognizes a young adult aged 15-21 with a documented disability who has shown outstanding leadership, community service or advocacy to help advance the efforts or raise positive awareness about Florida’s disability community. The youth serves as a model leader for other young adults with disabilities.

Vincent House Clubhouse in Pinellas Park was the recipient of The Beverly Chapman Award. This award is named for Beverly Chapman, the 1989 Disabled Floridian of the Year, who helped to establish a computer-training program for persons with disabilities at Valencia Community College. Nonprofit, 501c3 organizations that serve Floridians with disabilities and have an existing job placement program are eligible for this award. All placements from the program must be making at least minimum wage in a competitive, community employment environment.

Clear Channel Statewide Radio was honored with the Media Award for their continued support of Florida Disability Mentoring Day. The Media Award honors a member of the media for excellence in producing and/or reporting about people with disabilities in the news media. The individual or organization reinforces the value of people with disabilities in their reporting techniques.

The Able Trust, also known as the Florida Governor’s Alliance for the Employment of Citizens with Disabilities, annually recognizes outstanding achievements in five different categories. The award winners competed on a state level and were recognized for their efforts with a commendation from Governor Jeb Bush.